The Supreme Court on Thursday delivered a stern rebuke to the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) over a Social Science textbook chapter for Class 8 that referenced “judicial corruption,” terming the publication a matter of grave concern.
Taking immediate action, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant ordered that the chapter be banned and directed that no further publication, re-printing, or digital circulation of the textbook containing the contentious material be permitted. The court further instructed that all existing copies of the book with the chapter be “seized” forthwith and warned that any individual or entity found sharing the material in any form would face legal consequences.
In a strongly worded order, the court issued a contempt notice to NCERT Chairman Professor Dinesh Prasad Saklani and the Secretary of School Education, seeking an explanation for the publication. The bench observed prima facie that the inclusion of such content could amount to serious misconduct and, if proven to be a deliberate attempt to scandalise the judiciary, may fall within the ambit of criminal contempt.
“As head of the judiciary, it is my duty to ensure accountability; heads must roll,” Chief Justice Surya Kant remarked during the proceedings, pressing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared on behalf of NCERT. “We would like to have a deeper probe. I will not close these proceedings until there is some accountability. We want to know who the people behind this are,” he added.
Expressing strong displeasure, the Chief Justice stated that the judiciary appeared to have been unfairly targeted. “They fired a gunshot and the judiciary is bleeding today,” he said, describing the episode as potentially indicative of a “deep-rooted conspiracy” and “a very calculated move.”
The court also took exception to a communication issued by NCERT on Wednesday, noting that it contained no expression of apology and instead sought to justify the content. At the outset of the hearing, however, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology on behalf of the Ministry of Education.
The controversy escalated a day earlier when the Chief Justice sharply criticised the chapter’s narrative, raising concerns about its tone and perceived bias. The court made it clear that it would not permit any attempt to defame or undermine the integrity of the judiciary.
Further proceedings are expected as the court examines the circumstances under which the chapter was drafted, approved, and published.
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