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

The revised syllabus document on Manusmriti will be placed before DU’s Academic Council for Academic Matters on Friday.

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jul 12, 2024 07:06 AM IST

Manusmriti with the Manubhasya of Medhatithi by G N Jha will be introduced as a suggested reading under Unit V-Analytical Positivism of the undergraduate course paper in Bachelor of Laws or Legum Baccalaureus or LLB in Semester 1.

Following the uproar by a section of Delhi University teachers over a proposal by the Faculty of Law to introduce the ancient Sanskrit text Manusmriti in its undergraduate programme as a suggested reading, Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh Thursday stated the readings on this particular topic would be removed from the proposal before presenting it to the Academic Council.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Singh said, “The varsity held a review meeting today around 2 pm and rejected the inclusion of the suggested readings on Manusmriti in the Jurisprudence (Legal Method) paper, by the Faculty of Law, before it will be tabled in the AC meeting tomorrow.”

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.”

Opinion | My Lord, the Manusmiriti has no place in India’s courts

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.

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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.

Vidheesha Kuntamalla

Vidheesha Kuntamalla is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She is known for her investigative reporting on higher education policy, international student immigration, and academic freedom on university campuses. Her work consistently connects policy decisions with lived realities, foregrounding how administrative actions, political pressure, and global shifts affect students, faculty, and institutions. Professional Profile Core Beat: Vidheesha covers education in Delhi and nationally, reporting on major public institutions including the University of Delhi (DU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia, the IITs, and the IIMs. She also reports extensively on private and government schools in the National Capital Region. Prior to joining The Indian Express, she worked as a freelance journalist in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for over a year, covering politics, rural issues, women-centric issues, and social justice. Specialisation: She has developed a strong niche in reporting on the Indian student diaspora, particularly the challenges faced by Indian students and H-1B holders in the United States. Her work examines how geopolitical shifts, immigration policy changes, and campus politics impact global education mobility. She has also reported widely on: * Mental health crises and student suicides at IITs * Policy responses to campus mental health * Academic freedom and institutional clampdowns at JNU, South Asian University (SAU), and Delhi University * Curriculum and syllabus changes under the National Education Policy Her recent reporting has included deeply reported human stories on policy changes during the Trump administration and their consequences for Indian students and researchers in the US. Reporting Style Vidheesha is recognised for a human-centric approach to policy reporting, combining investigative depth with intimate storytelling. Her work often highlights the anxieties of students and faculty navigating bureaucratic uncertainty, legal precarity, and institutional pressure. She regularly works with court records, internal documents, official data, and disciplinary frameworks to expose structural challenges to academic freedom. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 & 2025) 1. Express Investigation Series JNU’s fault lines move from campus to court: University fights students and faculty (November 2025) An Indian Express investigation found that since 2011, JNU has appeared in over 600 cases before the Delhi High Court, filed by the administration, faculty, staff, students, and contractual workers across the tenures of three Vice-Chancellors. JNU’s legal wars with students and faculty pile up under 3 V-Cs | Rs 30-lakh fines chill campus dissent (November 2025) The report traced how steep monetary penalties — now codified in the Chief Proctor’s Office Manual — are reshaping dissent and disciplinary action on campus. 2. International Education & Immigration ‘Free for a day. Then came ICE’: Acquitted after 43 years, Indian-origin man faces deportation — to a country he has never known (October 2025) H-1B $100,000 entry fee explained: Who pays, who’s exempt, and what’s still unclear? (September 2025) Khammam to Dallas, Jhansi to Seattle — audacious journeys in pursuit of the American dream after H-1B visa fee hike (September 2025) What a proposed 15% cap on foreign admissions in the US could mean for Indian students (October 2025) Anxiety on campus after Trump says visas of pro-Palestinian protesters will be cancelled (January 2025) ‘I couldn’t believe it’: F-1 status of some Indian students restored after US reverses abrupt visa terminations (April 2025) 3. Academic Freedom & Policy Exclusive: South Asian University fires professor for ‘inciting students’ during stipend protests (September 2025) Exclusive: Ministry seeks explanation from JNU V-C for skipping Centre’s meet, views absence ‘seriously’ (July 2025) SAU rows after Noam Chomsky mentions PM Modi, Lankan scholar resigns, PhD student exits SAU A series of five stories examining shrinking academic freedom at South Asian University after global scholar Noam Chomsky referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an academic interaction, triggering administrative unease and renewed debate over political speech, surveillance, and institutional autonomy on Indian campuses. 4. Mental Health on Campuses In post-pandemic years, counselling rooms at IITs are busier than ever; IIT-wise data shows why (August 2025) Campus suicides: IIT-Delhi panel flags toxic competition, caste bias, burnout (April 2025) 5. Delhi Schools These Delhi government school grads are now success stories. Here’s what worked — and what didn’t (February 2025) ‘Ma’am… may I share something?’ Growing up online and alone, why Delhi’s teens are reaching out (December 2025) ... Read More

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