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A hearing was held today in the Supreme Court regarding the controversial section on ‘Corruption in the Judiciary’ in NCERT’s Class 8 Social Science textbook. The bench comprising Chief Justice Suryakant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi made strong observations on the book.
Supreme Court’s Stance
Chief Justice Suryakant stated that merely apologizing is not enough. This step appears to have been deliberately taken to undermine the dignity of the judiciary. The court added that there may be a deeper conspiracy involved and a detailed investigation is necessary. The court also directed the central and state governments to seize all copies of the book and remove its digital versions.
Notices and Accountability
The NCERT Director and the Education Secretary have been issued show-cause notices. The Supreme Court warned that failure to comply with its orders will result in strict action.
NCERT’s Response
NCERT has apologized for the controversial content and assured that the section will be removed from the book. The institution acknowledged that the error was unintentional and there was no intent to harm anyone’s dignity. The revised book will be made available to students at the beginning of the 2026-27 academic session. The Supreme Court has postponed the next hearing to March 11.
CJI’s Displeasure
Chief Justice Suryakant remarked, “No one will be allowed to tarnish the reputation of the judiciary. No matter how powerful they are, the law will take its course. I am taking suo motu cognizance of this matter.”
Significance of the Case
This case is considered an important step in maintaining the balance between education and the judiciary. Furthermore, it sends a strong message that special attention must be paid to reviewing and ensuring the quality of textbook content. Ensuring control and responsibility over any sensitive or controversial information in educational materials reaching students has now become a top priority for the government and academic institutions.
