Proposal to include Manusmriti in law courses rejected by Delhi University Vice-Chancellor

Following the backlash over the addition of ancient Hindu text Manusmriti in the curriculum of law courses at Faculty of Law, Delhi University (DU), Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has gone on record to say that the proposal has been rejected by DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Yogesh Singh..Yesterday, the online portal of DU law students reflected an updated syllabus for the Jursiprudence subject, with books on Manusmriti added as suggested reading.However, the student portal, as it stands updated today, does not reflect the ancient Hindu text as part of the syllabus..In a media statement to ANI, the Minister Pradhan confirmed,"Yesterday, some information came to us, that Manusmriti will be part of Law Faculty course (in DU). I inquired and talked to Delhi University Vice-Chancellor. He assured me that some law faculty member have proposed some changes in the Jurisprudence chapter. But when the proposal came to Delhi University administration...today, there is an Academic Council meeting. There is no endorsement of any such proposal in the authentic body of Academic Council. Yesterday itself, Vice-Chancellor rejected that proposal. We all our committed to our Constitution, to a futuristic approach. The government is committed to upholding the true spirit and letter of the Constitution. There is no question of including any controversial portion of any script...".In an updated report and statement to The Indian Express, Vice-Chancellor Singh mentioned,“The varsity held a review meeting today (July 11) 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 today.".Speaking to Bar & Bench on the latest development, Faculty of Law Dean Prof Anju Vali Tikoo said,"We need to discuss it at length because this course is already part of the BA programme and BA Hons of Sanskrit and Political Science within the University. So there is nothing which can be thought of as objectionable, and in law, we talk about different perspectives in order to develop critical thinking.".The subject Medhatithi's concept of State and Law was introduced as a topic under Unit V - Analytical Positivism of the subject Jurisprudence, being taught in the first semester of the three and five-year undergraduate law courses. The texts Manusmriti with the 'Manubhasya' of Medhatithi, by GN Jha, and Commentary of Manu Smriti - Smritichandrika, by T Krishnaswami Iyer, were added as suggested reading on the topic.Manusmriti has been subject to significant criticisms owing to its endorsement of the caste system, gender inequality, harsh punishments, outdated social norms and values, social ostracisation etc.