• Source:JND

SC-NCERT Book Row: The Supreme Court of India has issued show-cause notices to the Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education and to NCERT Director Dinesh Prashad Saklani, asking them to explain why action should not be initiated under contempt or other applicable laws for including a sub-chapter titled “Corruption in the Judiciary” in the Class 8 NCERT Social Science textbook.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Joymalya Bagchi, and Vipul M Pancholi declined to stay the suo motu proceedings, despite NCERT tendering an apology over the contentious content. The court also imposed a blanket ban on the concerned section of the textbook. It cautioned that any attempt to circumvent its order would amount to direct interference with the administration of justice and could invite contempt proceedings.

The top court has further directed NCERT to place on record detailed documents relating to the Teaching-Learning Materials Committee that cleared the chapter. This includes the names, qualifications and credentials of all members associated with the development of the content.

Earlier, NCERT apologised and stated that it would review and revise the chapter after due consultation, admitting that the reference to corruption was inappropriate. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the suo motu matter concerning the judicial corruption chapter in the Class 8 book on March 11.

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NCERT Textbook Controversy: Top Quotes From Supreme Court

  • “There appears to be a deep-rooted, well-planned conspiracy to defame the judiciary”: CJI Suraj Kant
  • “Unconditional, unqualified apology on behalf of the Ministry of Education” – Solicitor General Tushar Mehta
  • “There is not a single word of apology in NCERT's communication, and instead, they have justified it” – SC
  • “It is my duty to find out who is responsible; heads must roll.” – CJI
  • “No one will be allowed to go scot-free.” – SC
  • “We would like to have a deeper probe” – SC
  • “It seems there is a calculated move to undermine institutions and demean the dignity of the judiciary” – SC
  • “If allowed to go unchecked, this will erode people's faith in the judiciary” – SC
  • “Such misconduct, having everlasting impact on the judiciary, would fall within the definition of criminal contempt” – SC

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