New Delhi: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has publicly apologized for including a chapter on “Corruption in the Judiciary” in its textbook. NCERT issued a public apology on Tuesday, stating that the entire textbook has been withdrawn.
It is noteworthy that the Supreme Court had expressed strong displeasure over this issue.
A chapter included in the NCERT’s Class 8 social science textbook stated that corruption, overcrowding of cases and lack of adequate number of judges are among the challenges facing the judicial system. In a statement issued on Tuesday, NCERT said, “The National Council of Educational Research and Training recently published a social science textbook, ‘Exploring Society: India and Beyond’ Grade 8 (Part 2), which contained Chapter 4 titled ‘The Role of Judiciary in Our Society’. The Director and Members of NCERT unconditionally apologise for Chapter 4. The entire book has been withdrawn and is no longer available.” A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi took suo motu cognizance of “objectionable” statements about the judiciary in NCERT textbooks after senior lawyers Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi mentioned the matter for urgent consideration.
CJI Surya Kant strongly objected to a chapter on judicial corruption in the NCERT Class 8 curriculum, stating that no one in the world would be allowed to defame the judiciary and tarnish its integrity.
The Supreme Court has imposed a “complete ban” on any further publication, reprinting, or digital distribution of the NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook due to its “objectionable” content on corruption in the judiciary. The court said that a bullet has been fired and the institution (judiciary) is drenched in blood.
The central government has also expressed displeasure over the inclusion of the controversial portion in the book. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has promised to fix accountability and take action against those involved in its creation.
