Vedic astrology courses upheld by Court

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VFA-family, Bhattathiri <mulavana@a...> wrote:

Introduction of Vedic astrology courses in varsities upheld

By Our Legal Correspondent

 

 

 

NEW DELHI, MAY 5. The Supreme Court today dismissed a special leave

petition (SLP) filed by a scientist and two others challenging the

University Grants Commission's move to introduce `Vedic astrology'

(jyotir vigyan) courses in the Indian universities.

 

A Bench, comprising Justice S. Rajendra Babu and Justice G.P.

Mathur, rejected the SLP which was directed against the April 2001

judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court declining to entertain a

writ petition.

 

The petitioners, P.M. Bhargava, scientist, K. Subash Chandra Reddy

and Chandana Chakrabarti, had in their writ petition questioned the

decision of the UGC in according permission to the universities for

starting graduate, post-graduate and research courses in jyotir

vigyan.

 

They had contended that the guidelines issued by the UGC were

totally irrational, as Vedic astrology could not be held to see the

unforeseen.

 

They submitted that as a pseudoscience, astrology was considered to

be diametrically opposed to the findings and theories of modern

Western science.

 

The High Court dismissed the petition holding that it could not

interfere in the policy decision of the Government unless it was

found to be contrary to the law or made on extraneous

considerations.

 

In their SLP, the petitioners contended that the scientific

community considered the action of the respondents in starting the

Vedic astrology course as a giant leap backwards, undermining

whatever scientific credibility the country had so far achieved.

They sought a direction to set aside the judgment and a direction to

restrain the UGC and other respondents from implementing the

decision to start the astrology course in Indian universities.

 

On behalf of the Union Government it was submitted that there was no

compulsion in taking up the astrology course, which would be only an

optional subject. Even in several Western countries, astrology had

been included as a subject of study.

 

The apprehensions of the petitioners were misplaced, the Government

said seeking dismissal of the appeal.

 

The Supreme Court Bench agreed with the Centre's contention and

dismissed the SLP.

 

 

 

 

 

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