The Central government informed the Supreme Court that NCERT has been directed to review textbooks of all classes after the Class 8 judiciary chapter controversy. The Court suggested forming an expert committee, while NCERT withdrew the book and issued an unconditional apology.
The Supreme Court of India on March 11 heard the matter related to the controversial Class 8 Social Science textbook published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). During the hearing, the Central government informed the Court that it has directed NCERT to review textbooks across all classes following the recent controversy surrounding a chapter on the judiciary.
Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court that the government has asked NCERT to undertake a comprehensive review of its textbooks. He also assured the Court that a panel of subject experts would be constituted to examine the school curriculum and ensure that the content meets appropriate academic and institutional standards.
The Supreme Court bench responded by stating that it would prefer the Centre itself to constitute an expert committee to conduct the review rather than assigning the responsibility solely to NCERT. The Court indicated that an independent committee of domain experts could ensure a more objective and credible examination of the curriculum and avoid similar controversies in the future.
The issue arose after a Class 8 Social Science textbook published by NCERT included a chapter discussing challenges faced by the Indian judiciary, including corruption and the backlog of cases. The content drew strong criticism and eventually led to the Supreme Court expressing serious concern over the material included in the chapter.
Following the Court’s intervention, NCERT issued an unconditional apology and announced that the book had been withdrawn completely. In a public statement posted on social media platform X, the institution acknowledged the issue and expressed regret over the publication.
“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 The entire book has been withdrawn and is not available.”
The council further assured that it remains committed to maintaining high standards in educational material and acknowledged the concerns raised by stakeholders.
“We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and appreciate the understanding of all stakeholders. NCERT remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of accuracy, sensitivity, and responsibility in educational content.”
After the Supreme Court’s directions, NCERT also issued an advisory asking individuals and institutions who may still possess copies of the withdrawn textbook to return them to its headquarters. The advisory also requested the removal of any digital or social media content that reproduced the controversial chapter.
Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Education also stepped in to prevent further circulation of the textbook. The ministry wrote to the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and Information Technology asking them to stop the distribution of the controversial content through electronic media and digital platforms.
In its advisory, NCERT stated,
“Any individual or organisation in possession of the NCERT textbook ‘Exploring society: India and Beyond’, may return it to the (NCERT) headquarters. Any content related to the chapter ‘role of judiciary in our society’ if posted on social media or any digital platforms be deleted at the earliest possible.”
The controversy began after the Social Science textbook for Class 8 discussed certain structural problems faced by the judiciary, including corruption, shortage of judges, and the heavy backlog of cases in courts. These references attracted criticism and led to the matter being raised before the Supreme Court.
Following the backlash and the Court’s observations, NCERT clarified that the content in question was inappropriate and stated that the book would be rewritten. The council also indicated that the revised version of the textbook would be prepared in consultation with appropriate authorities to ensure accuracy and sensitivity in the discussion of institutional issues.
The matter has now triggered a wider review of school textbooks, with the Centre assuring the Supreme Court that experts will carefully examine the curriculum to ensure that educational content is balanced, responsible, and suitable for students.
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