He requested the court to give an interim order to stop the state government from making surya namaskar compulsory and initiate action against officials who violate the court order.

'In the light of the above arguments, the Jabalpur bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court comprising of Chief Justice A.K. Patnayik and Ajit Singh, Friday issued an interim order to the government to abstain from exerting any preasure on students and schools that do not take part in the surya namaskar,' Rajesh Chand told IANS.

The court, he said, has also issued notices to the chief secretary, principal secretary education, education commissioner, district education officer Jhabua and Rajgarh in this regard.

Archbishop Dr. Leo Cornelio, chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Council, has welcomed the order of the court.