NCERT removes Class 8 textbook from website after SC’s objection
Hours after the admonishment by the Supreme Court, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on Wednesday pulled a Class 8 textbook from its website. The council, responsible for school education curriculum, is also considering the removal of the controversial portions from the books already printed, said officials.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi has taken suo motu cognisance of the “objectionable” statements about the judiciary in NCERT textbooks after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, alongside Abhishek Singhvi, mentioned the matter for urgent consideration. CJI Kant strongly objected to a chapter on judicial corruption in the NCERT’s Class 8 curriculum, saying nobody on earth will be allowed to defame the judiciary and taint its integrity.
The NCERT’s new social science textbooks for Class 8 say corruption, a massive backlog of cases, and the lack of an adequate number of judges are among the challenges faced by the
judicial system. Meanwhile, the NCERT is said to have called an internal meeting to review the recommendations of the subject experts involved in the chapter and the officials who approved it. NCERT Chairman Dinesh Prasad Saklani did not respond to queries from the media.
The CJI said, “I will not allow anybody to defame the institution. Law will take its course.” He added, “As head of the institution, I have done my duty and have taken cognisance… This seems to be a calculated move. I won’t say much.” Justice Bagchi said the book seemed to be against the basic structure of the Constitution.
The CJI said, “Please wait for a few days. Bar and Bench are all perturbed. All high court judges are perturbed. I will take up the matter suo motu. I will not allow anybody to defame the institution. Law will take its course.” Later, Justice Kant said that the top court has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter.
The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Thursday a suo motu case over the “objectionable” statements about the judiciary in NCERT textbooks. Former law minister Ashwani Kumar hailed CJI Surya Kant for taking suo motu cognisance of the chapter and said the prompt action would help bury the propaganda against the judiciary.
