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SC to Hear Suo Motu Case on 'Objectionable' NCERT Textbook References Today

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a suo motu case concerning what it termed "objectionable" references to the judiciary in an NCERT Class 8 social science textbook. Chief Justice Surya Kant expressed strong displeasure over a chapter dealing with judicial corruption, stating no one can defame the judiciary. Following the court's observations, NCERT removed the textbook from its official website. The contentious textbook section discusses challenges like corruption, case backlogs, and insufficient judges in the judicial system.

Key Points: SC Hears Suo Motu Case on NCERT Textbook's Judiciary References

  • SC suo motu case on NCERT textbook
  • CJI displeased over judicial corruption chapter
  • Textbook removed from NCERT website
  • Content discusses judicial challenges
2 min read

SC to hear suo motu case on 'objectionable' references to judiciary in NCERT textbook today

Supreme Court hears suo motu case on 'objectionable' content about judiciary in NCERT Class 8 textbook. CJI expressed strong displeasure, leading to its removal.

"no one would be permitted to defame the judiciary or cast aspersions on its integrity - Chief Justice Surya Kant"

New Delhi, Feb 26

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Thursday a suo motu case concerning what it described as "objectionable" references to the judiciary in a Class 8 social science textbook published by NCERT.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi will take up the matter titled 'In Re: Social Science Textbook For Grade-8 (part-2) Published by NCERT and Ancillary Issues'.

The development assumes significance as the Chief Justice on Wednesday expressed strong displeasure over a chapter dealing with judicial corruption in the NCERT Class 8 curriculum. The CJI observed that no one would be permitted to defame the judiciary or cast aspersions on its integrity.

Following the apex court's sharp observations, NCERT removed the Class 8 textbook from its official website. Sources indicated that the government was not pleased with the inclusion of the contentious topic in the publication.

The top court has also taken note of the issue after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, along with Abhishek Singhvi, mentioned the matter before the bench seeking urgent consideration.

The social science textbook for Class 8, published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training, discusses various challenges faced by the judicial system, including corruption, a substantial backlog of cases and an insufficient number of judges.

A section in the revised textbook titled "corruption in the judiciary" states that judges are governed by a code of conduct that regulates not only their behaviour within the courtroom but also their conduct outside it.

The Supreme Court will now examine the concerns raised regarding the content and its implications.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
I'm a teacher. The chapter was factual and presented challenges like case backlog and judicial vacancies. It's important for young citizens to understand how systems work, warts and all. Removing it sets a bad precedent for academic freedom. 📚
A
Aditya G
Respectfully, the SC's reaction seems disproportionate. The textbook wasn't "defaming" anyone; it was stating known facts about systemic challenges. The swift removal from the website before a hearing feels like an overreach. We need more transparency, not less.
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see this from an international perspective. In many democracies, civics education includes critical discussion of all branches of government. Protecting institutions doesn't mean pretending they're perfect. Hope the court sees the value in an honest curriculum.
K
Karthik V
The judiciary is the pillar of our democracy. We must maintain its dignity, especially for young minds. There are appropriate forums to discuss reforms, but a school textbook might not be the place for such sensitive content. Balance is key.
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Nisha Z
As a parent, I'm confused. One day we want our kids to think critically, the next we remove content that encourages just that. The chapter also talked about the code of conduct for judges – it wasn't all negative. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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