Vedas Should Be Included in Law Curriculum: Supreme Court Judge

Supreme Court Justice Pankaj Mithal emphasises that students must be taught that concepts like justice and equity are rooted in India’s own ancient legal system rather than influenced by Western culture. 

Supreme Court of India aims to incorporate ancient legal philosophy in law colleges and universities in India. The Apex Court Justice Pankaj Mithal said that efforts are being made to Indianize the judicial system of the country with SC judgements being translated and made available in regional languages. Justice Mithal further stated that law students must be taught about Justice and equity from ideas embedded in India's ancient legal reasoning rather than concepts from the West. 

The Justice, during the legal conclave of the National Law Institute University (NLIU) Bhopal, mentioned that the Indian law schools shall formally incorporate the ancient Indian legal and philosophical traditions as a part of their law curriculum. The Vedas, the Smritis, the Arthashastra, the Manusmriti, the Dhammas, and the epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana must be implemented in the curriculum rather than kept as cultural artefacts. The ancient Indian system contains the reflections of justice, equity, punishment and moral duty. 

The SC judge stated that attempts are being initiated to Indianize the country's legal system by translating and making Supreme Court judgments accessible in regional languages.  As part of this effort, the former Chief Justice of India (CJI), DY Chandrachud, unveiled a new statue of the Lady of Justice dressed in a sari, carrying a book instead of a sword, and with the blindfold removed from her eyes.

The judge suggested that the subject to be proposed by law colleges and universities be titled "Dharma and Indian Legal Thought" or "Foundations of Indian Legal Jurisprudence" and that it not be limited to a textual reading but also draw associations between traditional Indian ideas of justice and their modern constitutional reflections.

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