The Hindu : New Delhi News : High Court notice to V-C of Delhi University

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Thursday, Apr 10, 2008
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High Court notice to V-C of Delhi University

Staff Reporter

Controversy over essay prescribed for B.A. history students

‘Chapter titled “Culture in India: Ancient” has hurt the sentiments of Hindus’
‘Public sentiments should be kept in mind while prescribing courses for studies’

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the Delhi University Vice-Chancellor and the University’s Academic Council on a petition seeking a direction to them to withdraw the alleged controversial essay prescribed for B.A. II Year History (Honours) students in which objectionable things had been written about Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman.

Petitioner Deenanath Batra, convener of non-governmental organisation Shiksha Bachao Anadolan through his counsel Monica Arora, submitted that the chapter titled ``Culture in India: Ancient” had hurt the sentiments of Hindus by attributing repugnant conduct and behaviour to the four Ramayana characters.

Seeking immediate withdrawal of the controversial chapter, the petitioner submitted that he like many other Hindus was aggrieved by it.

Ms. Arora submitted that the chapter written by A.K. Ramanujan also violated Article 25 (Fundamental Right to practise, propagate and profess one’s religion) of the Constitution. Besides, the writer had also committed offences under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The High Court in its judgment in the NCERT case last year had said public sentiments should be kept in mind while prescribing courses for studies for students, the petitioner stated.

In his prayer, the petitioner also sought an enquiry into how the chapter was included in the book.

A Division Bench of the Court comprising Justice Manmohan Sarin and Justice Manmohan directed the respondents to file replies to the petition within four weeks.

The Court also directed the five-member committee appointed by the Vice-Chancellor to look into the alleged controversy over the chapter by May 19, the next date of hearing.

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