Supreme Court Slams NCERT Class 8 Textbook Over Judicial Corruption Reference
The Supreme Court expressed strong displeasure over an NCERT Class 8 textbook reference to judicial corruption, warning against content that undermines faith in courts and influences young students negatively.
- Supreme Court reacts to NCERT textbook issue.
- Judicial corruption reference draws criticism.
- Court warns against undermining judiciary.
The controversy surrounding an NCERT Class 8 textbook reached the Supreme Court on Tuesday, drawing sharp reactions from the bench. The court questioned how school textbooks could include content that allegedly portrays the judiciary in a negative light and whether such lessons were appropriate for young students.
Taking serious note of the issue, Justice Surya Kant said the matter could not be treated lightly. He observed that portraying the judicial system in a manner that erodes trust among children was deeply concerning. According to the judge, the judiciary cannot remain silent if its credibility is questioned in educational material.
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi brought the issue to the court’s attention. They argued that the use of the term judicial corruption in a school level textbook was troubling and unfairly singled out an independent constitutional institution, while similar references to corruption in other sectors were absent.
Justice Surya Kant said the court had received calls and messages from judges across the country, including High Court judges, expressing concern over the content. He indicated that the matter had been taken up suo motu due to its seriousness and potential long term impact on students.
Responding to the arguments, the Chief Justice of India stated that the court was already aware of the issue and assured that appropriate steps would be taken. He made it clear that any attempt to undermine the judiciary would not be tolerated and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to protecting public confidence in the justice system.
