New Delhi, Feb 26: The Supreme Court has ordered the immediate seizure of the first edition of the NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook, citing concerns that the curriculum seeks to undermine the dignity of the Indian judiciary. The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M Pancholi, asserted that the publication’s narrative omits the transformative roles played by the courts while focusing on corruption and systemic challenges.
The Bench took suo motu cognisance of the matter, describing the inclusion of the controversial chapter as an “egregious” silence on the judiciary’s contributions to legal aid and justice. Chief Justice Kant declared that the court would conduct a deeper probe into the finalization of the text. He stated that the judiciary is “bleeding” from the impact of the publication and maintained that the court must find out who is responsible for the drafting process.
Federal authorities noted that the government has already begun halting the circulation of the books. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta affirmed that the two individuals who prepared the chapters would be barred from future engagements with government educational bodies. Despite these assurances, the court issued show-cause notices to top education officials, requiring them to explain why they should not face contempt proceedings.
The justices declared that while students should navigate the nuances of institutional architecture, it is improper to present them with biased information that could lead to a loss of sanctity for the judicial office. The court stated that the integrity of education must be upheld to prevent “impressionable minds” from developing misconceptions about the constitutional role of the courts.
Compliance reports regarding the seizure of all physical and soft copies must be filed on affidavit within two weeks. The Bench maintained that it would monitor the situation closely to ensure the order is not bypassed through any electronic or alternative means.
