उच्चतम न्यायालय ने कक्षा 8 की पाठ्यपुस्तक में न्यायपालिका में भ्रष्टाचार संबंधी अध्याय पर शुरू की गई स्वतः संज्ञान (suo motu) कार्यवाही को अधिकारियों की बिना शर्त माफी और विशेषज्ञ समिति द्वारा अध्याय के पुनर्लेखन के बाद समाप्त कर दिया है।
The Supreme Court of India has formally closed its suo motu proceedings initiated over a controversial chapter in an NCERT Grade 8 Social Science textbook. The chapter, titled The Role of the Judiciary in our Society, contained a sub-topic titled "Corruption in the Judiciary" that drew severe scrutiny from the apex court. Disposing of the matter, the Court drew a firm line between healthy institutional critique and the dissemination of unverified assertions to young students, emphasizing that while the judiciary is not averse to criticism, school curricula must maintain pedagogical integrity.
A three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana highlighted the importance of constructive discourse in a constitutional democracy. The Court noted that fair and informed critique serves as a necessary mechanism for institutional accountability and self-correction. However, the Bench underscored that such discussions belong in appropriate forums and rational debate mechanisms, rather than being introduced into textbooks meant for impressionable minds without proper verification.
Background of the Controversy
The issue originated earlier this year when the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of a newspaper report flagging the inclusion of the sub-topic in the textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond. Upon reviewing the content, the Court voiced strong concern, observing that the depiction undermined the authority of the judicial system and risked diminishing public trust in the institution.
Taking immediate preventive measures, the Bench ordered the seizure and complete withdrawal of all printed copies from circulation. It also placed a strict ban on any further publication, reprinting, or digital distribution of the material across educational platforms.
Alongside the recall order, the apex court issued show-cause notices under the Contempt of Courts Act to senior officials, including the Director of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Dr. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, and the Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, Sanjay Kumar. The Court questioned why legal action should not be initiated against those responsible for drafting and approving the offending section.
Initial proceedings also involved strict observations regarding the three academic experts who drafted the chapter. While the Court initially directed government entities and educational institutions to disassociate from them, that specific directive was subsequently recalled as the court shifted focus toward systemic corrective measures.
Revision Process and Unconditional Apologies
In March, the Supreme Court mandated the formation of a specialized committee comprising domain experts to review and rewrite the chapter. The panel included former Supreme Court judge Justice Indu Malhotra, former Attorney General for India K.K. Venugopal, and Professor Prakash Singh, alongside the National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee (NSTC).
During the final hearing, the Bench reviewed the revised draft prepared by the expert committee. The Court expressed satisfaction with the updated text, observing that it presents a balanced, objective, and factually accurate overview of the Indian judiciary. The Bench noted that the new material effectively outlines the constitutional role of the courts, as well as the inherent mechanisms ensuring judicial independence and accountability, without resorting to unnecessary glorification or unfair disparagement.
The Union government confirmed that 82,440 printed copies of the original textbook had been recalled from market circulation and distribution channels. Both the NCERT Director and the School Education Secretary submitted unconditional apologies for the lapse, assuring the Court that robust vetting mechanisms would be established for future educational publications.
Final Directions and Case Closure
Satisfied with the corrective steps taken by the authorities and the expert panel, the Supreme Court withdrew the contempt show-cause notices against the officials. The Bench formally placed on record its appreciation for the expert committee members for completing the revision within a strict timeframe.
Closing the proceedings, the Court reiterated that its intervention was driven not by an intolerance to public scrutiny, but by a duty to safeguard the quality and neutrality of school education. The court directed educational authorities to remain strictly bound by their undertakings to thoroughly vet all future instructional materials concerning public and constitutional institutions before publication.
Discription: The Supreme Court of India has closed its suo motu proceedings concerning a Grade 8 NCERT textbook chapter that included a section on "Corruption in the Judiciary." A Bench headed by CJI Surya Kant observed that while the judiciary welcomes fair and constructive criticism for institutional accountability, such critique must occur in appropriate forums rather than entering school curricula unverified.
Following court directions, over 82,000 copies of the textbook were recalled, and an expert committee reworked the chapter into a balanced, factually accurate account of the judiciary’s constitutional role. Accepting unconditional apologies from top education officials, the Court discharged the contempt notices and directed authorities to strictly vet all future educational content regarding public institutions.