Centre Establishes Expert Committee to Review Revised NCERT Chapter on Judiciary
The Indian government informed the Supreme Court on Friday that it has formed an expert committee to review a revised chapter in the class 8 NCERT textbook concerning the judiciary. This committee includes two former Supreme Court judges and a former attorney general, aiming to ensure the content is accurate and balanced.
Composition of the Expert Committee
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta disclosed 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:
- 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, along with a vice chancellor.
Mehta stated, "We have formed the committee to draft the chapter. Mr KK Venugopal will be a member. Justice Indu Malhotra will also be part. We have requested Justice Aniruddha Bose from the National Judicial Academy to be there." This move follows concerns over a passage in an older textbook that discussed judicial perspectives on slum dwellers.
Supreme Court's Response to Petition
The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by former NCERT member Pankaj Pushkar, challenging a passage in the older class 8 textbook that read, "recent judgments tend to view the slum dweller as an encroacher in the city." The court declined to entertain the petition, with Chief Justice Surya Kant emphasizing that the judiciary should not be oversensitive to healthy criticism.
In oral observations, the CJI noted, "It's a viewpoint about a judgment. That's healthy criticism. Why should the judiciary be so oversensitive? This part of the book outlines the judiciary's structure, functions, and achievements, while also noting that some judgments may be perceived as against common interests. People have a right to criticise our judgments." This stance underscores the court's commitment to transparency and public discourse.
Implications and Broader Context
The formation of this expert committee highlights the government's proactive approach to addressing educational content related to legal and judicial matters. By involving esteemed legal experts, the Centre aims to foster a nuanced understanding of the judiciary among students, balancing factual accuracy with critical perspectives.
This development occurs amid ongoing debates about curriculum reforms and the role of education in shaping public perception of institutions. The Supreme Court's refusal to intervene in the petition reinforces the principle that constructive criticism is vital for a robust democracy, encouraging open dialogue without judicial overreach.
