Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the government had no intention to disrespect the judiciary after controversy over an NCERT Class 8 book. The Supreme Court banned the book, and the Centre has ordered withdrawal and an inquiry.
In a major development, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has expressed regret over the inclusion of controversial content related to the judiciary in a Class 8 social science textbook published by NCERT. The issue has triggered nationwide debate after the Supreme Court of India took serious note of the matter and ordered a blanket ban on the book.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Pradhan clarified the government’s stand and stressed that the judiciary commands the highest respect. He said,
“We hold the judiciary in the highest regard… There was absolutely no intention on the part of the government to disrespect the judiciary. We are taking this matter very seriously… We will fully comply with the judiciary’s decision. I am deeply saddened by what happened and express my regret,”
Pradhan told reporters today.
The controversy arose after references to corruption in the judiciary appeared in a Class 8 social science textbook. The matter escalated quickly, leading to judicial intervention. Explaining the immediate steps taken by the Ministry of Education, the Minister said,
“As soon as this matter came to my attention, I immediately instructed the NCERT to withdraw all the books and ensured that they do not go into circulation. I have also ordered the withdrawal of those books,”
he said.
He further assured strict action against those responsible and announced an internal inquiry.
“An inquiry will be conducted into the NCERT, and action will be taken against those involved in creating that chapter. I assure the judiciary that such a mistake will not be repeated in the future,”
he said.
The issue came to the notice of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant after a media report highlighted the content of the book. Taking serious note of the matter, the CJI announced a suo motu hearing and made strong remarks.
“I will not allow anyone on earth to taint the integrity of the institution and defame the institution… Whosoever high it may be, the law will take its course. I know how to deal with it”.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court observed that such content, if left unchecked, could weaken public trust in the judicial system. Justice Kant firmly stated,
“No one will be allowed to go scot-free. It is my duty as the head of the institution to find out who is responsible; heads must roll,”
Justice Kant said.
Following the Supreme Court’s direction, NCERT immediately put the distribution of the controversial textbook on hold.
The controversy centres around the book titled Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Vol II. Chapter 4 of the book, titled
“The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society”,
discussed issues such as alleged corruption in the judiciary, complaints against judges, and concerns about transparency. The chapter also included excerpts from a speech delivered by former Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai in July 2025.
In his speech, Justice Gavai had spoken about instances of misconduct within the judiciary and the need to restore public trust. The book quoted him as saying,
“The path to rebuilding this trust lies in swift, decisive and transparent action taken to address and resolve these issues… Transparency and accountability are democratic virtues”.
The quote was reproduced in the chapter as part of a broader discussion on institutional accountability.
The textbook also mentioned that efforts are being made at both the central and state levels to improve transparency, including the use of technology and strict action against corruption. However, the inclusion of such material in a foundational school textbook led to strong objections.
The matter was also raised before the Supreme Court by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi. They questioned whether such sensitive discussions should be part of a Class 8 curriculum. Kapil Sibal also posted on social media platform X and wrote,
“NCERT’s Class VIII book includes a section on corruption in the judiciary! What about the massive corruption of politicians, including ministers, public servants, investigation agencies, and why governments? Brush them under the carpet!”
In response to the growing controversy, NCERT issued a public statement on X. The statement read,
“It has been observed that certain inappropriate textual material and error of judgement have inadvertently crept into Chapter No. 4, entitled ‘The Role of Judiciary in Our Society’ (pp. 125-142).”
Reaffirming its respect for the judicial system, NCERT further stated that it
“holds the judiciary in highest esteem and considers it to be the upholder of the Indian Constitution and protector of Fundamental Rights,”
and clarified that the inclusion of the material was “purely unintentional” and corrective steps are being taken.
The statement also added,
“NCERT reiterates that the objective of the new textbooks is to strengthen constitutional literacy, institutional respect, and informed understanding of democratic participation amongst students. There is no intent to question or diminish the authority of any constitutional body,”
the statement read.
With the Supreme Court’s intervention and the government’s assurance of corrective action, the issue has now taken a serious legal and constitutional dimension.
The inquiry ordered by the Education Ministry and the ongoing judicial proceedings are expected to determine accountability in the coming days, while the incident has once again sparked a wider debate on textbook content, institutional respect, and freedom of academic discussion in India.
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