NEW DELHI, Feb 28 : The NCERT judicial corruption chapter controversy has intensified after the Supreme Court raised strong objections to a Class 8 Social Science lesson discussing alleged corruption within the judiciary. In response, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has initiated a formal inquiry into how the chapter was approved and included in the curriculum.
Supreme Court Orders Immediate Ban
During recent proceedings, the Supreme Court termed the inclusion of the material deeply troubling and took suo motu cognisance of the issue. The court directed a complete ban on the textbook, ordering withdrawal of all printed copies and removal of digital access. It described the matter as serious and warned against attempts that could undermine public confidence in the judicial system.
NCERT Begins Internal Investigation
NCERT officials stated that a comprehensive review of the book’s drafting and approval process is underway. The council is working to identify individuals responsible for clearing the disputed content and has assured that corrective measures will be implemented to prevent similar lapses in future publications.
The organisation has also removed the textbook from its website and issued an apology for what it termed “inappropriate content.”
Minister Assures Action
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed concern over the episode, calling the presence of such material in a middle-school textbook unacceptable. He reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining institutional respect and said accountability would be fixed following the inquiry.
Revised Content Introduced
Amid the controversy, NCERT has introduced a revised chapter titled “Role of Judiciary in Our Society” in the updated Class 8 Social Science book. The new content discusses judicial functioning and systemic challenges in a restructured format, though the Supreme Court continues to scrutinise the matter closely.
Authorities indicated that further updates will follow based on the outcome of the investigation.