New Delhi, Following reports that a proposal to teach 'Manusmriti' to LLB students of Delhi University has been put up for approval, university vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh on Thursday clarified that the suggestions have been rejected and that students will not be shown the manuscript.
"Today a proposal was submitted from the Faculty of Law to the University of Delhi. In the proposal, changes were suggested in the document titled Jurisprudence. One of the changes was to include readings on Manusmriti. We have rejected both the suggested readings and the proposed amendments by the College. Nothing of this kind will be taught to the students," Singh said in a video message shared by the varsity.
A proposal to teach 'Manusmriti' (Laws of Manu) to LLB students of Delhi University was scheduled to be discussed at a meeting of its Academic Council on Friday, a move that drew criticism from a section of teachers.
The Law Faculty had sought approval from the highest decision-making body of the University of Delhi (DU) to revise the syllabus of its first and third year students to teach them 'Manusmriti'.
The changes to the jurisprudence work syllabus concerned semesters one and six of the LLB.
Based on the reviews, it was proposed to introduce students to two readings on Manusmriti: Manusmriti with Medhatithi's Manubhasya by G N Jha and Manu Smriti's Commentary - Smritichandrika by T Kristnasawmi Iyer.
The decision to suggest the revisions was unanimously approved at 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 that the manuscript propagates a "regressive" perspective towards the rights of women and marginalized communities and goes against a "system progressive education". ".
In a letter to Singh, SDTF general secretary SS Barwal and president SK Sagar said recommending Manusmriti to students as suggested reading "is highly objectionable as this text is inimical to the progress and education of women and marginalized communities in India.
"In Manusmriti, in several sections, it is opposed to 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 said.
The SDTF demanded that the proposal be withdrawn immediately and not approved at the Academic Council meeting scheduled for July 12.
He further requested the vice-chancellor to issue an order to the law faculty and concerned staff members to continue teaching jurisprudence on paper based on the existing syllabus.
"Today a proposal was submitted from the Faculty of Law to the University of Delhi. In the proposal, changes were suggested in the document titled Jurisprudence. One of the changes was to include readings on Manusmriti. We have rejected both the suggested readings and the proposed amendments by the College. Nothing of this kind will be taught to the students," Singh said in a video message shared by the varsity.
A proposal to teach 'Manusmriti' (Laws of Manu) to LLB students of Delhi University was scheduled to be discussed at a meeting of its Academic Council on Friday, a move that drew criticism from a section of teachers.
The Law Faculty had sought approval from the highest decision-making body of the University of Delhi (DU) to revise the syllabus of its first and third year students to teach them 'Manusmriti'.
The changes to the jurisprudence work syllabus concerned semesters one and six of the LLB.
Based on the reviews, it was proposed to introduce students to two readings on Manusmriti: Manusmriti with Medhatithi's Manubhasya by G N Jha and Manu Smriti's Commentary - Smritichandrika by T Kristnasawmi Iyer.
The decision to suggest the revisions was unanimously approved at 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 that the manuscript propagates a "regressive" perspective towards the rights of women and marginalized communities and goes against a "system progressive education". ".
In a letter to Singh, SDTF general secretary SS Barwal and president SK Sagar said recommending Manusmriti to students as suggested reading "is highly objectionable as this text is inimical to the progress and education of women and marginalized communities in India.
"In Manusmriti, in several sections, it is opposed to 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 said.
The SDTF demanded that the proposal be withdrawn immediately and not approved at the Academic Council meeting scheduled for July 12.
He further requested the vice-chancellor to issue an order to the law faculty and concerned staff members to continue teaching jurisprudence on paper based on the existing syllabus.
