The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) apologized for including inappropriate content in the Class VIII Civics chapter “Role of the Judiciary in Our Society,” after the Department of School Education & Literacy ordered suspension of its distribution pending review.
NEW DELHI: In a press release, NCERT has expressed its regret for the error of judgment committed by keeping chapter titled ‘Role of the Judiciary in Our Society’ in the revised Class VIII civics, which went beyond explaining the hierarchy of courts and access to justice. and offered its apologies, reaffirming its commitment to uphold institutional sanctity and respect.
It also said that upon reviewing the copies of Chapter 4, titled “The Role of Judiciary in our Society” (pp. 125–142), found certain inappropriate content and an error of judgment for which the Department of School Education & Literacy (Ministry of Education) flagged the same concern and directed that further distribution of the book be suspended until further notice. NCERT has complied with this instruction.
It expressed that,
As per the extant procedure, NCERT brought out the Social Science textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Vol II for Class 8 on 24-02-2026. On receiving the textbook, 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” (pg 125-142). The Department of School Education & Literacy (Ministry of Education) also made a similar observation and directed that the distribution of this book may be kept on strict hold until further orders. The same has been complied with.
National Council of Educational Research & Training also clarified that it holds the judiciary in the highest regard and views it as the guardian of the Constitution and protector of fundamental rights. The inclusion of the objectionable material was entirely inadvertent, and it regrets the lapse.
NCERT emphasized that the aim of the new textbooks is to promote constitutional awareness, respect for institutions, and an informed appreciation of democratic participation among students.
There was no intention to challenge or undermine the authority of any constitutional body. NCERT welcomed constructive feedback as part of its ongoing review process and will revise the chapter after consulting the appropriate authorities.
The corrected material will be made available to Class 8 students at the start of the 2026–27 academic session.
Previously, The Central government had decided to remove references to “corruption at various levels of the judiciary” from the NCERT Class VIII textbook, according to high-level government sources. The move comes after strong objections were raised by members of the legal fraternity and concerns were expressed in the Supreme Court of India.
Sources told media that this section “should not have been written”, adding that highlighting such aspects is “not appropriate” and “inspirational things” should have been written instead. The sources further stated that, quoting a former Chief Justice, BR Gavai, “is not right” and “is not appropriate”. It was also pointed out that the current Chief Justice had expressed displeasure over the content.
The controversy relates to a revised Class VIII civics chapter titled ‘Role of the Judiciary in Our Society’, which went beyond explaining the hierarchy of courts and access to justice. The chapter also discussed challenges faced by the judiciary, including corruption and case backlogs.
In that context, it cited a July 2025 remark by former Chief Justice BR Gavai regarding instances of corruption and misconduct in the judiciary and their impact on public confidence.
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 issue reached the Supreme Court of India, where the Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant expressed serious concern. The Court reportedly observed that members of the judiciary, including High Court judges, had been “perturbed” by the reference in a school textbook.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice said the court would not allow anyone to “defame the institution” and informed that he has taken cognisance and may initiate suo motu action.
The matter was brought to the Court’s attention by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who objected to the inclusion of judicial corruption in a school-level textbook.
In an earlier post on X, he 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!”
The debate also comes in the background of data shared recently by the Law Ministry, which revealed that the Chief Justice of India’s office received 7,528 complaints against sitting judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts between 2016 and 2025.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi also criticised the selective focus.
In court, he remarked,
“The selectivity my lord. The selectivity… It is there in other areas also but judicial corruption,”
pointing out that corruption exists in many institutions and should not be highlighted in isolation.
The chapter in question explained that judges are bound by a code of conduct that governs not only their behaviour inside the courtroom but also outside it. It also referred to internal accountability mechanisms within the judiciary.
Further, the book mentioned that efforts are being made at both central and state levels to improve transparency and strengthen public trust, including the use of technology and prompt action against wrongdoing.
However, some legal experts believe that discussing such complex issues at the school level may not be appropriate. Senior advocate Sidhart Luthra questioned whether such content complicates rather than educates young students.
According to him, at the Class VIII level, the objective should be to introduce students to the organs of governance and explain their basic functions.
Supreme Court lawyer Pragya Parijat Singh also expressed concern about the manner in which the issue was presented.
She said,
“Judiciary has always endeavoured to have better laws. Everything has pros and cons. But to mention it this way… without any critical analysis of what role judiciary has played in shaping Indian democracy shows lack of understanding,”.
Following the objections from senior lawyers and the concerns raised in the Supreme Court, the government has now decided to remove the controversial references.
The development has sparked a larger discussion on how institutions should be portrayed in school textbooks and whether highlighting sensitive issues like corruption strengthens democratic awareness or risks undermining public faith in constitutional bodies.
Follow us on X:
Read Attachment:
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
