Proposal to introduce Manusmriti in LLB course causes uproar, DU V-C says readings will be removed

The revised syllabus document was to be placed before DU’s Academic Council for Academic Matters Friday to pass its implementation for the upcoming academic session in August.

Manusmriti with the Manubhasya of Medhatithi by G N Jha and Commentary of Manu Smriti- Smritichandrika by T Krishnaswami Iyer were proposed as suggested readings under Unit V-Analytical Positivism of the undergraduate course paper in Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in Semester 1.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Professor Anju Vali Tikoo, Dean, Faculty of Law, had said earlier in the day, “The Manusmriti has been introduced in line with the NEP (National Education Policy) 2020 to introduce Indian perspectives into learning. The unit under which it has been introduced in itself is an analytical unit. Hence, to bring in more perspective for the student to compare and understand analytical positivism, this step has been taken.”

Protesting the move, the Social Democratic Teachers Front had written to the V-C on Wednesday stating, “… it has come to our knowledge that Manusmriti has been recommended to students as ‘suggested readings’ which is highly objectionable as this text is adverse to the progress and education of women and marginalised communities… Introduction of any section or part of Manusmriti is against the basic structure of our Constitution and principles of Indian Constitution.”

Referring to the commentary in the syllabi’s suggested readings, DU AC member Maya John had said the modifications in both Jurisprudence papers are politically motivated as they lack academic merit.

The Congress also attacked the Centre over the proposal. Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary, in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh said this is “all part of the salami tactics of the non-biological PM to bring fulfilment to the decades-long attempt by the RSS to assault the Constitution and Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy”.

Meanwhile, the Faculty of Law is in the process of adding three new courses on the new criminal laws that came into effect on July 1. The courses on the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act, 1872, will be replaced with those on the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhitha, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.

The new courses were drafted by the Law Faculty’s Committee of Courses last month and approved by the Standing Committee on Academic Matters on June 24.