New Delhi, Feb 26: The Union Education Ministry has initiated a process to hold officials accountable for the inclusion of a chapter regarding judicial corruption in NCERT social science textbooks. This move comes after the Supreme Court expressed strong disapproval, suggesting that the content appeared intended to tarnish the integrity of the legal system.
Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated that he was deeply saddened by the development and asserted that there was no official intent to insult the judiciary. He declared that the Ministry would conduct a thorough investigation into how the chapter was approved and included in the Class 8 curriculum. The Minister affirmed that the court’s recent observations have been noted with the utmost seriousness and that corrective measures are already underway.
The judicial bench described the situation as a serious matter, noting that they would not allow the judiciary’s reputation to be undermined. Following these stern observations, the NCERT apologized for the lapse and stated that the curriculum would be revised. The court has ordered a total ban on the distribution of the book, requiring that all existing copies be withdrawn from circulation immediately.
The disputed chapter reportedly discussed challenges within the judicial system, including case backlogs and corruption. However, the court maintained that the presentation of these issues was inappropriate for school-level education. Government sources stated that the administration was displeased with the references and supported the immediate removal of the material.
Minister Pradhan affirmed that the government would ensure such incidents do not recur. He maintained that the drafting process for future textbooks would undergo more rigorous scrutiny to prevent the inclusion of content that could be perceived as defamatory toward constitutional bodies.
