Manusmriti, the Indian Courts, and Their Women

Despite considerable scholarly and other writing on the Manusmriti terming it regressive, especially in its denial of rights to women, the presence of Manu still looms large in our courts. This article focuses on how even benign and seemingly harmless invocations of Manu by the judiciary to grant rights to women are equally problematic. Taking a gender perspective strengthens the case for doing away with the continuing presence of the Manusmriti from our texts, courts and society at large.