Triggering a nationwide stir, India’s Supreme Court on Thursday slammed NCERT for including scandalous judiciary corruption claims in its Class 8 Social Science textbook, mandating an urgent recall. The bench, under Chief Justice Suryakant, branded it a ‘premeditated scheme’ to discredit courts, with further scrutiny slated for March 11.
The flashpoint arose from interventions by legal heavyweights Kapil Sibal and Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who decried the chapter’s suitability for impressionable students. Highlighting its gravity, they warned of long-term damage to judicial legitimacy.
NCERT’s Solicitor General Tushar Mehta offered contrition, detailing blacklisting of the content creators and withdrawal of distributed copies. Yet, the court pushed back, demanding broader accountability. ‘Punishing two is too simplistic; this is an attack on the entire judiciary,’ CJI Suryakant remarked vividly.
Invoking the Constitution’s vision of independent pillars of state, he cautioned against materials that could erode trust in the justice system among youth. Queries flew on remaining availability, prompting assurances of total removal.
As investigations deepen, this standoff underscores the judiciary’s unyielding defense of its reputation. NCERT’s overhaul commitment aims to restore integrity, but the episode raises questions on content vetting processes in national education bodies.