The plea contended that the statue was installed secretly in 1989 as Manu was not a popular figure, but rather someone who propagated the caste system of social hierarchy.
Subsequently, there was a full-court meeting that very year where it was resolved to have the statue removed, the plea said.
However, a challenge to the same is still pending before a full-bench of the High Court.
The petitioner said that Manu was the author of the Manusmriti which is against ‘the very concept of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity to all, enshrined in the preamble of Indian Constitution.‘
The Manusmriti is openly against women as also 75 per cent of the population of India, it was submitted.
The prevalence of the statue reduces India’s standing abroad, as countries will not invest in a country that promotes discrimination, it added.
Further, removing the statue will benefit Hindu society, it was submitted.
Source: Barandbench
