Supreme Court Issues Stern Rebuke to NCERT Over Controversial Textbook Chapter
The Supreme Court of India delivered a sharp reprimand to the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on Thursday concerning a recently withdrawn chapter in a newly introduced Class 8 textbook. This chapter, which had been added to the syllabus just days prior, outlined issues of "corruption" and "backlogs" within the judiciary, sparking significant controversy.
Court Labels Matter a 'Deep-Rooted Conspiracy'
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, expressing profound dismay, termed the inclusion of the chapter a "deep-rooted conspiracy." The court issued a show-cause notice to the NCERT director and demanded immediate action, pushing for a "deeper probe" into the circumstances surrounding the chapter's addition. In a strongly worded statement, the bench emphasized that such actions could undermine public faith in the judiciary if left unchecked.
Key directives from the Supreme Court included:
- Seizure of all physical and digital copies of the NCERT textbook containing the controversial chapter.
- Immediate compliance from central and state authorities with the court's orders.
- A scheduled hearing for the suo motu case on March 11 to further address the issue.
Judiciary's Strong Reaction to the Textbook Content
The Supreme Court bench made several critical observations during the hearing. They stated, "They have fired the gun and the judiciary is bleeding today. Today, anybody can say anything. At times, there is a mounting attack on us, and we are aware of it. The material is available online, on the internet, and even in stores. This is a very calculated move -- the entire teaching will be dictated."
Further elaborating, the CJI added, "The entire teaching community will first be instructed that this is what they have to teach. In reality, not a single section of society has been left untouched. It is a deep-rooted, well-planned, and orchestrated conspiracy." The court also noted the absence of an apology in NCERT's communication, instead finding justification for the chapter's content.
In a firm declaration, CJI Surya Kant asserted, "It is my duty to find out who is responsible; heads must roll," underscoring the gravity of the situation and the need for accountability. The bench warned that such misconduct, with its potential everlasting impact on the judiciary, could fall within the definition of criminal contempt.
Details of the Controversial Textbook Chapter
The controversy stems from a new NCERT social science textbook for Class 8, which included a revised chapter titled 'The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society.' Unlike previous editions that primarily focused on the structure and role of courts, this chapter addressed systemic challenges, including corruption, heavy case backlogs, and insufficient judge numbers.
One section explicitly discussed corruption within the judicial system, stating, "People do experience corruption at various levels of the judiciary. For the poor and the disadvantaged, this can worsen the issue of access to justice. Hence, efforts are constantly being made at the State and Union levels to build faith and increase transparency in the judicial system, including through the use of technology, and to take swift and decisive action against instances of corruption wherever they may arise."
The textbook also provided stark data on pending cases:
- Approximately 81,000 cases in the Supreme Court.
- About 62.40 lakh cases in high courts.
- Roughly 4.70 crore cases in district and subordinate courts.
This inclusion has raised questions about the appropriateness of such content in educational materials for young students, leading to the Supreme Court's intervention and the subsequent withdrawal of the chapter by NCERT.
