Two weeks after the Supreme Court banned a social science textbook chapter on the judiciary, NCERT issued an unconditional public apology, announcing withdrawal of the Class 8 book Exploring Society: India and Beyond that contained the controversial chapter.
NEW DELHI: Two weeks after the Supreme Court instituted a comprehensive ban on a social science textbook featuring a contentious chapter on the judiciary, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) issued an unconditional public apology today.
In a statement published in newspapers, NCERT stated,
“The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has recently published a social science textbook ‘Exploring Society: India and Beyond’ Grade 8 (Part-II), which contained Chapter IV titled ‘The Role of Judiciary in our Society’. The Director and Members of NCERT hereby tender an unconditional and unqualified apology for the said Chapter IV. The entire book has been withdrawn and is not available.”
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This apology follows significant controversy surrounding the Class 8 textbook, particularly due to a section discussing “corruption in the judiciary.” Chief Justice of India Surya Kant delivered strong remarks in response to media reports on the chapter.
He stated.
“I will not allow anyone on earth to taint the integrity of the institution and defame the institution. At any cost, I will not permit it. Whosoever high it may be, the law will take its course. I know how to deal with it,”
In an effort to manage the fallout, NCERT halted the distribution of the textbook and acknowledged that certain “inappropriate” content and an “error of judgement” had inadvertently found their way into the chapter.
The Supreme Court took suo motu action, enforcing a complete ban on the book and ordering the confiscation of all physical copies along with the removal of digital versions. The court emphasized the necessity for a thorough investigation, warning that if such issues continued unchecked, they would undermine public trust in the judiciary.
The Chief Justice of India declared,
“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,”
Earlier, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, issued an unconditional apology on behalf of the Ministry of Education. He informed the court that two individuals responsible for the reference to ‘corruption in the judiciary’ would “never work with the UGC or any ministry.”
However, the Chief Justice found this insufficient, remarking,
“That is of very little consequence. They fired a gunshot, and the judiciary is bleeding today.”
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