दिल्ली यूनिवर्सिटी के लॉ कोर्स में मनुस्मृति पढ़ाने का सुझाव: एकेडमिक काउंसिल की बैठक में आज प्रस्ताव पर होगी चर्चा; शिक्षकों का एक वर्ग इसके खिलाफ

The Left-backed Social Democratic Teachers Front (SDTF) has opposed the move.

The proposal to teach Manusmriti (Laws of Manu) to LLB students of Delhi University may be discussed today. It will be presented in the Academic Council meeting. A section of teachers is against it.

The Law Faculty has sought permission from the highest decision-making body of Delhi University (DU) to change the syllabus of its first and third year students so that ‘Manusmriti’ can be taught to them. Actually, the changes in the syllabus of the jurisprudence paper are related to the first and sixth semester of LLB.

Lessons from Manusmriti can be included in the syllabus
As per the amendments, two texts of Manusmriti – ‘Manusmriti with the Manubhasya of Medhatithi’ by G N Jha and ‘Commentary of Manu Smriti – Smritichandrika’ by T Krishnaswamy Iyer have been proposed for students to read.

The decision to suggest this change was taken unanimously in a meeting of the Faculty’s Course Committee chaired by Delhi University Dean Anju Wali Tikku on June 24.

Social Democratic Teachers Front wrote a letter to the Vice Chancellor of DU
​​​​​​​The Left-backed Social Democratic Teachers Front (SDTF) has opposed the move. SDTF wrote a letter to Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh saying that the book promotes backward attitudes towards the rights of women and marginalized communities and is against the progressive education system.

SDTF General Secretary SS Barwal and Chairperson SK Sagar said in the letter that advising students to read Manusmriti as suggested reading is highly objectionable as this book is against the progress and education of women and marginalized communities in India.

It is written in this letter that many sections of Manusmriti contain things against women’s education and equal rights. The introduction of any section or part of Manusmriti is against the basic structure and principles of our Constitution.

SDTF has demanded that this proposal be withdrawn immediately and not approved in the Academic Council meeting to be held on July 12. In this letter, the Vice Chancellor has been requested to issue an order to the Law Faculty and related staff members to continue teaching the Jurisprudence paper on the basis of the existing syllabus.

This change will be made in the syllabus of first and third year students.

Jairam Ramesh said- this is an attempt to fulfill the decades old strategy of RSS
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that RSS has been attacking the Constitution and Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy for decades. Teaching Manusmriti in DU is a part of the non-biological Prime Minister’s salutary strategy to fulfil these efforts.