The Supreme Court of India took suo motu action against a ne
The Supreme Court of India took suo motu action against a newly published Class 8 Social Science textbook by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) after it included a chapter discussing “corruption in the judiciary,” case backlogs, and shortages of judges.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant ruled that the chapter’s wording could damage the judiciary’s image and undermine public confidence. The Court immediately banned the printing, distribution, and online sharing of the textbook, and ordered that existing printed and digital copies be seized or removed. It also asked NCERT to explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated.
In response, NCERT apologised, describing the chapter’s inclusion as an “error in judgment.” It agreed to recall the books and revise the content after proper consultation. The Ministry of Education has directed steps to block further digital circulation of the disputed material.
The controversy has sparked wider debate about:
• How democratic institutions should be taught in schools
• Whether students should learn about systemic challenges within institutions
• The balance between transparency and preserving public trust
• The limits of judicial authority in academic content
Comments
NCERT runs by the central government. The Supreme court should be an action on the Ministry of education.
Really good post!