50+ Academics Appeal to President on NCERT Ban Issue
Letter to Droupadi Murmu raises concerns over academic freedom and judicial overreach in education policy
New Delhi: More than 50 academicians and scholars have appealed to President Droupadi Murmu, expressing serious concern over the Supreme Court of India’s decision to ban an National Council of Educational Research and Training Class 8 Social Science textbook, calling it a case of “judicial overreach.”
In a joint letter, the signatories criticised the ban imposed on the book Exploring Society: India and Beyond, particularly objecting to the removal of a chapter dealing with the judiciary. They warned that such a move could have long-term implications for the country’s education system and academic autonomy.
The scholars argued that the decision restricts educators and stakeholders from objectively analysing academic content and undermines open discourse on critical institutional issues. They further pointed out that the court had taken suo motu cognisance on February 26, labelled portions of the chapter as “offending,” and ordered a ban while initiating criminal contempt proceedings.
According to the letter, members of the textbook development team were subsequently identified and faced punitive measures, including directions for institutions to distance themselves from them. The academicians claimed this action violated principles of natural justice, as those involved were allegedly penalised without being given an opportunity to defend their work.
They also raised concerns about potential violations of fundamental rights, particularly those linked to employment and livelihood, stating that the consequences extended beyond academic critique to personal and professional repercussions.
Emphasising that curriculum-related decisions should remain within the domain of education experts, the signatories referred to frameworks like the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023. They maintained that the textbook was designed to foster critical thinking and civic awareness among students.
The letter further highlighted that banning an entire textbook over a specific section had disrupted learning for students nationwide and created an atmosphere of apprehension among educators, potentially discouraging meaningful academic discussion.
Calling for urgent action, the scholars urged the President to direct the Ministry of Education to seek withdrawal of the ban, allow the book’s publication without the disputed chapter, revoke punitive measures against the authors, and ensure inclusive academic representation in any future review process.
