Supreme Court Objection Leads to NCERT Textbook Withdrawal

JIMMC NEWS DESK (AKASH YADAV): The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has removed a Class 8 social science textbook from its official website after the Supreme Court objected to certain content related to the judiciary.

The decision came soon after the court expressed concern over references discussing corruption within the judicial system. As a result, education authorities started reviewing the chapter.

For now, students and teachers cannot access the book online while officials examine the material.

Supreme Court Raises Serious Objections

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant reviewed the issue after senior lawyers highlighted concerns during court proceedings. Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi were also part of the bench.

The court stated that educational content must protect institutional dignity. Therefore, it warned against presenting information that could damage public trust in the judiciary.

The judges also said they would closely monitor how authorities handle the matter.

Education Ministry Begins Review Process

Following the court’s observations, the Ministry of Education held a meeting with NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani and senior officials.

During the discussion, officials examined whether the chapter handled a sensitive topic carefully enough. Consequently, the government started considering revisions or removal of certain passages.

Officials explained that although NCERT works as an autonomous body, textbook content must present balanced institutional perspectives.

What the Chapter Included

The chapter titled “Role of the Judiciary in Society” introduced a broader discussion about how courts function and remain accountable.

Unlike earlier editions, the updated chapter added data and examples related to judicial challenges.

For example, it mentioned:

Around 81,000 pending cases in the Supreme Court
About 62.4 lakh cases in High Courts
Nearly 4.7 crore cases in district and subordinate courts

In addition, the chapter discussed internal complaint systems within the judiciary. It also referred to the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System, which recorded more than 1,600 complaints between 2017 and 2021.

Government Raises Data and Context Concerns

Government officials later questioned whether experts verified the data before publication. They also noted that the Union Law Ministry was not consulted during the drafting stage.

Moreover, officials claimed that remarks attributed to former Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai appeared without proper context. According to sources, this created misunderstandings about his statements.

Authorities suggested that discussions about corruption should include all branches of government — executive, legislature, and judiciary — to maintain balance.

Existing Accountability Mechanisms Highlighted

Meanwhile, the government pointed to existing systems that already address complaints against judges.

Data shared in Parliament by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal showed that 8,639 complaints were filed against sitting judges between 2016 and 2025.

Officials said these mechanisms demonstrate that institutional accountability already exists within the judicial system.

What Happens Next?

The government will continue consultations before making a final decision. After the review, NCERT may release a revised version of the textbook.

Until then, the book will remain unavailable on the website.

The controversy has also started a wider debate about how schools should teach sensitive institutional topics while maintaining accuracy and neutrality.

Conclusion

The withdrawal of the Class 8 textbook shows how closely educational content is now being examined in India. Authorities aim to ensure that textbooks remain informative, balanced, and responsible.

The final revision will likely influence how governance and institutional accountability are taught to students in the coming years.

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