Delhi University turns down proposal for teaching Manusmriti to LLB students

Following reports that a proposal to teach Manusmriti to Delhi University's LLB students is placed for approval, the varsity's vice chancellor, Yogesh Singh, clarified on July 11 that the suggestions have been rejected and the students will not be taught the manuscript.

"Today, a proposal by the Faculty of Law was submitted to Delhi University. In the proposal, they suggested changes to the paper titled Jurisprudence. One of the changes was to include readings on Manusmriti. We have rejected both the suggested readings and the amendments proposed by the faculty. Nothing of this sort will be taught to students," said Singh in a video message shared by the varsity on July 12.

A proposal to teach Manusmriti (Laws of Manu) to Delhi University's LLB students was slated to be discussed in a meeting of its Academic Council on July 12, a move that drew criticism from a section of teachers.

The Faculty of Law had sought approval from the highest decision-making body of Delhi University (DU) to revise the syllabus of its first and third-year students to teach them Manusmriti.

The changes in the syllabus of the jurisprudence paper pertained to semesters one and six of LLB.

According to the revisions, two readings on Manusmriti—Manusmriti with the Manubhasya of Medhatithi by G. N. Jha and Commentary of Manu Smriti—Smritichandrika by T. Kristnasawmi Iyer—were proposed to be introduced for the students.

The decision to suggest the revisions was unanimously approved in a June 24 meeting of the faculty's Course Committee headed by its dean, Anju Vali Tikoo, according to the minutes of the meeting.

Objecting to the move, the Left-backed Social Democratic Teachers Front (SDTF) had written to the vice chancellor, stating the manuscript propagates a "regressive" outlook towards the rights of women and marginalized communities and is against a "progressive education system."

In a letter to Singh, SDTF general secretary S S Barwal and chairperson S K Sagar said recommending Manusmriti to the students as a suggested reading "is highly objectionable as this text is adverse to the progress and education of women and marginalized communities in India."

"In Manusmriti, in several sections, it opposes women's education and equal rights. The introduction of any section or part of Manusmriti is against the basic structure of our Constitution and the principles of the Indian Constitution," the letter read.

The SDTF demanded that the proposal be immediately withdrawn and not approved in the Academic Council's meeting scheduled to be held on July 12.

It further requested that the vice chancellor issue an order to the law faculty and the concerned staff members to continue teaching paper jurisprudence based on the existing syllabus.

(PTI)