New Delhi: Cow slaughtering and Muslim lynching by cow vigilants in India which has become a communal issue was not left to the Indian Judiciary to decide on, but, a state government law university recently decided to make it a part of its own syllabus.
The university in its law exam asked its students to decide on case of a Muslim slaughtering a cow in presence of Hindus and whether what he did was right in the eye of law.
The university, however, later realized it indeed made a communal question and retrospectively “deleted” the question.
“We regret this question. It is, of course, communal in nature,” said Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University registrar Satnam Singh.
“The question stands deleted and no marks will be given for it, irrespective of whether a student has attempted it. The controller of examinations will issue an advisory to the examiners so that such things don’t happen in future,” he added.
LLB Third semester’s question from ‘Law of crimes’ subject went on something like this: “Ahmed, a Muslim, kills a cow in a market in the presence of Rohit, Tushar, Manav and Rahul, who are Hindus. Has Ahmed committed any offence?” it went, The Telegraph reported.
Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who looks after the education portfolio responding to the issue said: “It’s really bizarre — an attempt to disturb harmony in society. If true, strict action will be taken. The government will order an inquiry.”
If the probe finds malicious intent, the paper setter may be booked under Section 153A (promoting enmity between religious groups) of the penal code and jailed for up to three years if convicted he said.
Supreme Court lawyer Bilal Anwar tweeted the question on Monday and emailed the same to the university and an affiliated college.
“Here is a new normal, de-humanising an entire community…. Is this what you are making the young legal minds to feel normal about? Categorically referring (to) communities in your question papers?” Anwar tweeted.
He also tagged the Chanderprabhu Jain College of Higher Studies and School of Law in Narela, northwest Delhi.
However, Ms Neeta Beri, dean, School of Law, told: “I feel this is a hypothetical situation, and any situation can be presented before a court. We as students of law do not see it as controversial.”
When asked why religions were mentioned, she replied: “Do these things not happen in society? Where Hindus and Muslims live together these things do arise in our society…. This is only a situation our students have to be educated about.”
N.R. Madhava Menon, the father of modern legal education in India, who founded three law institutes including the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences in Calcutta, said the question could “lead to mischief”.
“The matter could be examined in context. To mention the religion of a person is not an offence unless it’s a live case. But (whether) to ask such a question as an example is a matter of prudence…. In the hands of some people it could lead to mischief,” he warns.