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Delhi HC Justice Prathiba Singh's Comments On Manusmriti Earn Flak On Social Media

Indian scriptures like Manusmriti give a very respectable position to women, Delhi high court Justice Prathiba M. Singh said on Wednesday at an event organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)

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Snehal Mutha
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Justice Pratibha Singh's comments on Manusmriti
Indian scriptures like Manusmriti give a very respectable position to women, Delhi high court Justice Prathiba M Singh said on Wednesday, August 10 at an event organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
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Justice Singh was asked to speak on the challenges women face in the field of science, technology, entrepreneurship, and mathematics (STEM). Bar and Bench quoted her saying, ‘I think we are a blessed lot of women in India and the reason for that is our scriptures have always given a very respectable position for women and as Manusmriti itself says that if you don’t respect and honour women, all the pooja path that you may do has no meaning. So I think our ancestors and Vedic scriptures knew very well how to respect women.'


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Justice Pratibha Singh's Comments On Manusmriti Earn Flak On Social Media

Manusmriti published in the 5th Century C.E remains controversial for its verses that refrain from the autonomy of women. It has been responsible for the derogatory position accorded to women. Manusmriti observes unmarried menstruating women as a threat and a source of religious pollution.

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Despite its controversial texts, Justice Prathiba Singh taking a stand in favour of Manusmriti has left Twitter shocked.

Kavita Krishnan, secretary, All India Progressive Women’s Association reacted on Twitter: 'The Manusmriti lays down the law that a woman who makes love to a man of a higher caste incurs no punishment; a woman who makes love to man of a ‘lower caste’ than hers must be isolated and kept in confinement. If a man from a subordinate caste makes love to a woman of the highest caste, he must be put to death. For a judge to call all this ‘respect’ is worse than absurd – it is downright scary that the rights of women in India lie at the mercy of judges like Pratibha Singh.'

Prathiba Singh Justifies Manusmriti

Another user commented, "Justice Pratibha Singh’s comment cannot be just brushed lightly, for someone who potentially has the power to decide individual/collective future."

Journalist Sanjukta Basu tweeted, "She is either ignorant or she believes in the oppression of women, and Dalits."

One user commented, "Heard Meenakshi Lekhi promote Manusmriti at a gender equity forum a few months ago. Now this! They are systematically inching towards throwing out the constitution in favour of the horrifically casteist and oppressive Manusmriti."

Prathiba Singh Justifies Manusmriti
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