In a bold stand against perceived institutional slander, the Supreme Court has scheduled a pivotal hearing for Thursday on the uproar over NCERT’s Class 8 textbook featuring a segment on ‘Corruption in the Judiciary.’ The court took suo motu notice, signaling zero tolerance for such content.
Chief Justice Suryakant, leading a bench with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, will address the grievances. The firestorm ignited Wednesday when top lawyers Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, and Mukul Rohatgi flagged the issue. CJI Suryakant didn’t mince words: ‘No one will be permitted to malign the judiciary, no matter how influential. I am invoking suo motu powers.’
NCERT rolled out the updated Social Science book for Class 8 on February 24, but the controversial section quickly drew sharp criticism. Facing the heat, the council apologized profusely, suspended all distribution, and vowed to overhaul the chapter.
Directions from the School Education and Literacy Department ensured immediate cessation of book supplies. NCERT’s official statement admitted the lapse was inadvertent, stressing no malice toward the judiciary. Experts will refine the content, with the corrected version slated for 2026-27.
‘We regret the oversight and assure preventive measures,’ NCERT affirmed. This clash highlights the tightrope walk in crafting school curricula that educates without offending pillars of democracy. The Supreme Court’s intervention could set precedents for future textbook approvals, reinforcing accountability in educational publishing.