Judiciary – NCERT Withdraws Class 8 Textbook After Supreme Court Raises Objections
Judiciary – The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has issued a public apology and withdrawn a recently released Class 8 social science textbook following objections over a chapter that referred to problems within the country’s judicial system. The council confirmed that the book has been completely taken out of circulation and will no longer be distributed.
Textbook Chapter Triggered Debate
The textbook, titled Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Grade 8, Part 2), included a chapter named “The Role of Judiciary in our Society.” Within this section, certain passages discussed challenges faced by the judicial system, including corruption, a heavy backlog of pending cases, and the shortage of judges in courts.
These references soon sparked controversy, with critics arguing that such descriptions were inappropriate for a school-level textbook. The matter quickly attracted national attention and eventually reached the Supreme Court.
NCERT Issues Public Apology
Responding to the growing concerns, NCERT released a statement acknowledging the issue and apologizing for the content. The council’s director and members expressed what they described as an unconditional and unqualified apology for the inclusion of the disputed material.
NCERT also clarified that the textbook has been withdrawn entirely. According to the council, the publication will no longer be available in printed or digital form while the matter is reviewed.
Supreme Court Takes Suo Motu Cognisance
The controversy reached the Supreme Court after senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi raised the issue before the court and sought urgent attention. The court decided to examine the matter on its own motion, describing certain references in the textbook as objectionable.
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant heard the case. The bench also included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi.
During the proceedings, the court expressed serious concern over the inclusion of statements related to corruption in the judiciary in a school curriculum. The Chief Justice emphasized that the credibility and integrity of the judiciary must not be undermined in educational materials.
Court Orders Halt on Publication
Following the hearing, the Supreme Court directed that the textbook should not be published, reprinted, or circulated in any form. The court also ordered that digital distribution of the book must stop immediately.
The bench observed that the content had the potential to harm the reputation of the judicial institution. As a result, it ordered a complete halt on any further use of the publication until appropriate corrective steps are taken.
Government Signals Accountability
The Union government also responded to the controversy. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the issue would be examined and accountability would be determined.
According to the minister, action would be taken against those involved in preparing the chapter if any lapses were found during the review process. He emphasized that educational material must maintain accuracy and responsibility, particularly when discussing key democratic institutions.
Broader Questions on Curriculum Oversight
The incident has renewed discussion around how school textbooks are prepared and reviewed before publication. Education experts have pointed out that textbooks play a crucial role in shaping young students’ understanding of national institutions and governance.
While the chapter aimed to describe the functioning of the judiciary, critics argued that sensitive institutional issues require careful handling in school-level material. The withdrawal of the book indicates that authorities are likely to re-examine the review mechanisms used for educational publications.
For now, NCERT has confirmed that the controversial edition of the Class 8 social science textbook has been completely withdrawn, and further steps will depend on the outcome of ongoing consultations and reviews.