Supreme Court Takes Strong Exception to Controversial NCERT Content!

The Supreme Court on Thursday took suo motu cognisance of the controversy surrounding a newly introduced Class 8 Social Science textbook published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), which included a chapter discussing corruption in the judiciary. Expressing serious concern, the court observed that the content appeared to undermine the dignity and authority of the judicial system. During the hearing, the Centre issued an unconditional apology through Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, stating that the government does not support the controversial material and respects the judiciary’s institutional integrity.

Chief Justice Justice Surya Kant made strong remarks, warning that such content could damage public confidence, particularly among young students, if left unchecked. The Supreme Court ordered an immediate ban on the disputed textbook and issued show-cause notices to the NCERT Director and the School Education Secretary, seeking explanations on why action should not be taken against those responsible. The court also noted that while the textbook discussed accountability, it failed to adequately highlight the judiciary’s historic contributions. Following directions from the Education Ministry, NCERT has withdrawn the book from circulation, removed it from its official website, and issued an apology. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for March 11.