Government Constitutes Expert Panel to Revise NCERT Textbook's Judiciary Chapter
The central government informed the Supreme Court on Friday that it has established a three-member expert committee to comprehensively rewrite the chapter on the judiciary in the NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook. This decisive action follows significant controversy and legal proceedings initiated by the apex court over a specific section within the chapter that referenced "corruption in the judiciary."
Composition of the High-Level Committee
The newly formed committee comprises distinguished legal luminaries: former Attorney General of India K. K. Venugopal, former Supreme Court judge Indu Malhotra, and sitting Supreme Court judge Justice Aniruddha Bose. The government's formal assurance regarding the committee's constitution led the Supreme Court to close its suo motu proceedings in this sensitive matter.
Background of the Controversy and Legal Proceedings
The issue was originally brought before a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The lawyers argued that the textbook content was selectively targeting the judiciary, presenting corruption as an issue exclusive to this institution while omitting references to other sectors like bureaucracy and politics.
"They have left out bureaucracy, politics, etc. Not a word on other sectors. They are teaching as if it only exists in this institution," the senior counsels contended. In response, CJI Surya Kant emphasized that no entity would be permitted to "defame" the judiciary as an institution, prompting the initiation of suo motu proceedings.
Prior to this, the Supreme Court had issued an order staying the sale of the contentious textbook and had sought detailed responses from the concerned authorities. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) had already acknowledged the error in the chapter's content and had withdrawn it from circulation on February 25, pulling the new Class 8 Social Science textbook from the market entirely.
Significant Shift in Textbook Content
The inclusion of the section on judicial corruption marked a notable departure from previous editions of the textbook, which traditionally focused on explaining the structure, functions, and role of courts within the Indian democratic framework. The revised chapter, titled "The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society," expanded its scope beyond court hierarchy and access to justice. It ventured into discussing systemic challenges faced by the judicial system, including issues of corruption and the persistent problem of case backlogs, which contributed to the ensuing controversy.
Resolution and Path Forward
With the expert committee now officially constituted, the process of revising the textbook chapter will commence under the guidance of its esteemed members. The committee's mandate is to ensure the content is accurate, balanced, and educationally appropriate, aligning with constitutional values and the dignity of judicial institutions. This development concludes a chapter of legal scrutiny while opening a new phase of academic review aimed at rectifying the perceived imbalances in the educational material.
