Centre Constitutes Expert Committee to Review Revised NCERT Chapter on Judiciary
The Central government has officially informed the Supreme Court of India that it has established a high-level expert committee tasked with reviewing a revised chapter in the NCERT class 8 textbook that discusses the judiciary, including aspects of corruption. This development came to light during a hearing on Friday, March 20, 2026, in New Delhi.
Composition of the Expert Committee
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, detailed the committee's members to a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi. The panel comprises distinguished legal experts:
- KK Venugopal: Senior advocate and former Attorney General of India.
- Justice Indu Malhotra: Former judge of the Supreme Court.
- Justice Aniruddha Bose: Former Supreme Court judge and current director of the National Judicial Academy.
- Additionally, a vice chancellor is included to provide academic oversight.
Mehta emphasized that the committee's primary role is to draft and refine the chapter, ensuring it presents a balanced and accurate portrayal of the judiciary's structure and functions.
Background of the Supreme Court Hearing
The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by former NCERT member Pankaj Pushkar, who challenged a passage in an older class 8 textbook. The contentious text stated, "recent judgments tend to view the slum dweller as an encroacher in the city." Pushkar argued that this content was misleading and required revision.
Supreme Court's Observations on Judicial Criticism
During the proceedings, the Supreme Court bench, particularly Chief Justice Surya Kant, expressed a nuanced view on the matter. The court declined to entertain the petition, highlighting that the judiciary should not be overly sensitive to healthy criticism.
Chief Justice Kant observed orally, "It's a viewpoint about a judgment. That's a healthy criticism. Why should the judiciary be so oversensitive about that? This part of the book points out what is the structure of the judiciary, how they work, what they have done, some good has also been highlighted. Then they say, however, there are also Court judgments that people believe work against the best interests of common persons... This is a viewpoint about a judgment; people have a right to criticise our judgments."
The court's remarks underscored the importance of academic freedom and the right to critique judicial decisions, suggesting that such discussions are vital for a transparent and accountable legal system.
Implications for Educational Content
This move by the Centre to form an expert committee reflects ongoing efforts to ensure that NCERT textbooks provide accurate and balanced educational material. The review process aims to address concerns about how judicial topics are presented to young students, promoting a deeper understanding of India's legal framework.
The committee's work is expected to involve a thorough analysis of the chapter, potentially leading to revisions that better align with factual accuracy and educational objectives. This initiative highlights the intersection of education, law, and governance in shaping informed citizens.
