New Delhi, Mar 11 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it is perturbed by the NCERT’s stand that the controversial chapter in class 8 social science book, which contained “offending” contents on corruption in the judiciary, has been “duly rewritten”.
The apex court referred to the affidavit filed by the NCERT’s director which said the revised chapter shall be incorporated in the forthcoming academic session 2026-27 and shall be used for classroom transactions in schools in accordance with the applicable curriculum and academic framework.
“We are equally perturbed with the stand taken by the Director NCERT in paragraph 15 of the affidavit,” a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said.
“We direct that if at all chapter 4 of the subject textbook has been rewritten, the same shall not be published unless it is approved by a committee comprising domain experts,” the bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, said.
The bench said it has not been apprised either through affidavit or otherwise as to who are the alleged subject experts/domain experts who have “rewritten” the chapter again and who has approved its incorporation in curriculum of academic session 2026-27.
It observed that such act was likely to create more complexity with reference to an objective, transparent, honest and dispassionate information that ought to be incorporated in the curriculum with respect to judiciary or for that matter any other institution.
The bench was hearing a suo motu case concerning NCERT’s class 8 social science book, which contained “offending” contents on corruption in the judiciary.
The affidavit filed by the NCERT director said that in light of the directions issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, through a letter dated February 27 to the NCERT, the “concerned chapter 4 of the subject textbook has been duly rewritten”.
During the hearing, the bench observed its worry is that the affidavit has said the chapter has been “duly rewritten”.
“Who has done it?” the bench asked.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the bench that the chapter would not go into textbook unless the committee of domain experts examines not only this chapter but everything.
The bench questioned how and in what manner the chapter was rewritten after the concern expressed by it.
“I can assure nothing will go without being vetted by the committee of domain experts,” the law officer said.
In his affidavit filed in the court, professor Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), has tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology for inclusion of controversial chapter in the social science textbook for class 8.
He said the chapter was drafted by textbook development team under the chairmanship of professor Michel Danino and consisting members Suparna Diwakar and Alok Prasanna Kumar.
“I state and submit that the above referred individuals shall not be associated with any activity of NCERT hereafter,” the affidavit said.
It said the chapter was to be looked into by members of National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee (NSTC) which consists of 19 members.
The affidavit said it has emerged that textbook which included the chapter was not placed before the committee and the members of textbook development team had circulated the same only amongst few members digitally.
“I state that this is a major and unpardonable lapse and shall be ensured that the same is not repeated hereafter,” the NCERT director said.
The affidavit gave the status of printed copies of the textbook seized and sealed.
It said total 82,440 copies of textbook was printed and the number of books sold to retail customers was 38 which have been retrieved.
The affidavit said 82,425 books were seized and sealed and were kept in NCERT warehouses.
It further said 15 books were available with the ministry and office of NCERT Director.
It said total 82,440 copies were tracked and the total number of computer-to-plate (CTP) plates were six, which have been destroyed, seized and sealed and kept in publication division of NCERT.
“It is humbly stated that in view of the above, the deponent in the capacity of being Director, NCERT has taken all necessary and urgent steps to implement the order as passed by this court concerning immediate seizure and sealing of textbook in both physical and digital form within the premises of NCERT,” it said.
The affidavit said the textbook has not been circulated by NCERT to any schools and teaching institutions for imparting pedagogical instructions either in physical or digital form.
It also said in terms of the order passed on February 26, the NCERT issued a media advisory recalling the textbook and imposed blanket ban on any further publication, reprinting or digital dissemination of digital textbook.
It said on February 24, NCERT received a direction from the Department of School Education and Literacy to withhold the circulation as well as keep the distribution of textbook on strict hold until further orders.
It said the department also directed NCERT to call back all the copies already circulated with immediate effect.
On February 26, the apex court imposed a “complete blanket ban” on any further publication, reprinting or digital dissemination of NCERT’s class 8 social science book as it contains “offending” contents on corruption in the judiciary, saying they have fired a gunshot and the judiciary is “bleeding”. PTI ABA MNL ABA KVK KVK
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