New Delhi, Delhi University (DU) vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh on Friday said that the proposal to introduce Manusmriti for LLB students was rejected as it was not considered appropriate, and that there are other texts that can be used to teach knowledge Indians.
In an interview with him, Singh said he exercised his emergency powers to scrap the proposal during a pre-screening of the agenda for Friday's Academic Council meeting.
The vice chancellor (VC) stopped the proposal to introduce Manusmriti for LLB students on Thursday and clarified that the university would not teach that text after a section of teachers opposed it.
The proposed changes to the jurisprudence work syllabus concerned semesters one and six of LLB.
Based on the reviews, it was proposed to introduce students to two readings on Manusmriti: 'Manusmriti with the Manubhasya of Medhatithi' by G N Jha and 'Commentary on Manu Smriti - Smritichandrika' by T Kristnasawmi Iyer.
A committee headed by Singh decided that the proposal made by the Law Faculty was not suitable to be presented for deliberations and rejected it before it could be presented before the Academic Council, the highest decision-making body of DU.
"When this proposal was brought before a committee headed by me, we did not find it appropriate and rejected it. There are many other texts for teaching Indian knowledge and we should not rely on any particular text," Singh said.
The proposal drew criticism from a section of teachers who said Manusmriti is "regressive" towards the rights of women and marginalized communities and against a progressive education system.
Several students from the Left-affiliated All India Students Association (AISA) staged protests outside the VC's office against the rejected proposal, calling it a step towards "saffronization" of the university.
In an interview with him, Singh said he exercised his emergency powers to scrap the proposal during a pre-screening of the agenda for Friday's Academic Council meeting.
The vice chancellor (VC) stopped the proposal to introduce Manusmriti for LLB students on Thursday and clarified that the university would not teach that text after a section of teachers opposed it.
The proposed changes to the jurisprudence work syllabus concerned semesters one and six of LLB.
Based on the reviews, it was proposed to introduce students to two readings on Manusmriti: 'Manusmriti with the Manubhasya of Medhatithi' by G N Jha and 'Commentary on Manu Smriti - Smritichandrika' by T Kristnasawmi Iyer.
A committee headed by Singh decided that the proposal made by the Law Faculty was not suitable to be presented for deliberations and rejected it before it could be presented before the Academic Council, the highest decision-making body of DU.
"When this proposal was brought before a committee headed by me, we did not find it appropriate and rejected it. There are many other texts for teaching Indian knowledge and we should not rely on any particular text," Singh said.
The proposal drew criticism from a section of teachers who said Manusmriti is "regressive" towards the rights of women and marginalized communities and against a progressive education system.
Several students from the Left-affiliated All India Students Association (AISA) staged protests outside the VC's office against the rejected proposal, calling it a step towards "saffronization" of the university.
