Delhi University has rejected a proposal to include Manusmriti in its law course, following strong opposition from various quarters. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan confirmed that the proposal to teach Manusmriti to law students was rejected by the University’s Vice Chancellor, Yogesh Singh, on Thursday.
Pradhan emphasized that the government is committed to upholding the true spirit of the Constitution and will not include any controversial material in the curriculum. “We are dedicated to our Constitution and a futuristic approach. There is no question of including any controversial portion of any script,” he said.
The proposal to include readings on Manusmriti was initially suggested by the Faculty of Law, aiming to revise the syllabus for first and third-year students. However, this move drew criticism from a section of teachers, prompting the Vice Chancellor to reject the proposal.
In a video message, Singh clarified, “A proposal by the Faculty of Law was submitted to the Delhi University to include readings on Manusmriti in the paper titled Jurisprudence. We have rejected both the suggested readings and the amendments proposed by the Faculty. Nothing of this sort will be taught to students.”
The changes in the syllabus were proposed for semesters one and six of the LLB program, and included two specific readings on Manusmriti. However, the highest decision-making body of the university, the Academic Council, did not endorse the proposal, leading to its rejection.
This decision has been welcomed by those who criticized the inclusion of Manusmriti, which they view as controversial and not in line with contemporary legal education.
