The NCERT had, for the first time, introduced content on the alleged corruption within the judiciary and the mounting backlog of court cases in its revised Class-8 Social Science textbook.
After facing intense backlash for introducing a section on “corruption in the judiciary” in the revised Class 8 Social Science textbook, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has reportedly withdrawn the controverisal book.
The revised book was released on Monday but was pulled out of sale a day later on Tuesday.
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“The National Council of Educational Research and Training’s (NCERT) new Class 8 Social Science textbook, which had a section on “corruption in the judiciary”, has been pulled out of sale,” news agency ANI quoted NCERT sources as saying.
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What NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook said on judiciary
The NCERT had, for the first time, introduced content on the alleged corruption within the judiciary and the mounting backlog of court cases in its revised Class-8 Social Science textbook.
The new chapter, titled ‘Role of the judiciary in society,’ outlined key challenges faced by the judicial system, including alleged corruption at various levels, shortage of judges, complex legal procedures, and inadequate infrastructure, leading to a significant pendency of cases.
According to the data included, around 81,000 cases are pending in the Supreme Court, approximately 62 lakh 40 thousand cases in high courts, and nearly 4 crore 70 lakh cases in district and subordinate courts.
SC takes suo motu cognisance
Following the controversial addition, the Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of concerns over references to “corruption in the Indian judiciary”, with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asserting that he would not permit anyone to “defame or denigrate” the institution.
Senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Kapil Sibal raised objections to the contents of the revised textbook, saying members of the legal fraternity were “deeply disturbed” that schoolchildren were “being taught about corruption in the judiciary” without similar references to other institutions.
“I can assure all of you that I am fully aware of it,” CJI Kant said, noting that he had been receiving numerous calls and messages on the issue.
“Wait for a day. This is definitely concerning the entire institution. The Bar and the Bench are perturbed. Every stakeholder in the system is really disturbed. I am receiving a lot of calls and messages,” said the CJI.
He further remarked, “I will not allow anyone on earth to taint the integrity of the institution and defame the institution. At any cost, I will not permit it. Whosoever high it may be, the law will take its course. I know how to deal with it.”
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