The Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice Justice D.Y. Suryakant, banned a controversial chapter in the NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook. The chapter, which discussed corruption in the judicial system, was deemed inappropriate. The court warned that anyone violating this ban would face strict action.
Justice Suryakant also issued show-cause notices to the NCERT Director and the School Education Secretary. They must explain why the authorities should not face penalties for including the chapter.
Justice Suryakant Criticises the Chapter Harshly
The case was considered suo motu, with Justice Suryakant expressing strong disapproval. He said the chapter appeared to deliberately undermine the judiciary’s credibility.
“The content spreads distrust and harms public faith. Ignoring this could damage the judiciary’s reputation among citizens, especially young students,” Justice Suryakant remarked.
Although the chapter tried to explain the judiciary’s role, it omitted the institution’s unique history and integrity. Justice Suryakant made it clear that the court would not leave the matter until those responsible are identified.
Senior Lawyers Bring Concerns
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi highlighted the issue before the three-judge bench headed by Justice Suryakant. They stated that the chapter misrepresented the judiciary and could harm its reputation.
Justice Suryakant responded firmly: “No one will be allowed to tarnish the judiciary’s image. We will protect its integrity at all costs.”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta apologised on behalf of the government, assuring the court that the administration fully supports the judiciary and does not endorse the controversial chapter.
NCERT Halts Sales and Removes the Textbook
Following Justice Suryakant’s order, NCERT immediately stopped selling and distributing the textbook. The Ministry of Education instructed NCERT to remove copies containing the chapter on judicial corruption.
NCERT admitted the content was inappropriate, apologised, and removed the textbook from the official website. The organisation also promised stricter review procedures to prevent similar issues.
Next Hearing Scheduled
Justice Suryakant and the bench scheduled the next hearing for March 11. The court will review the steps taken by NCERT and the education authorities. This case highlights that textbooks must respect the judiciary’s dignity and maintain public trust.
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