NCERT Row: Supreme Court takes cognizance of Class 8 textbook over defamatory reference to judicial corruption

The Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognizance of a section in the newly released NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook that refers to “corruption in the judiciary”, and expressed strong disapproval to its contents, the Bar and Bench reported.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, asserting that the court cannot allow anyone to defame the institution, said all high court judges are “perturbed” by the inclusion. "This seems to be a calculated move. I won't say much," Justice Kant was quoted in the report. He added that the law will take its course.

The new National Council of Educational Research and Training - NCERT - Class 8 textbook contains a section on “corruption in the judiciary” as part of a chapter on “The role of the judiciary in our society,” the Indian Express reported.

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'A grave concern': SC on NCERT new textbook

Terming it as an attack on the basic structure of the Constitute, CJI Joymalya Bagchi and Kant expressed: "The book seems to go against the basic structure itself. The chapter lists corruption at various levels of the judiciary and massive backlog of cases on account of multiple reasons, such as a lack of an adequate number of judges, complicated legal procedures, and poor infrastructure” among the “challenges” faced by the judicial system.”

Calling it a grave concern, senior advocate Kapil Sibal objected that the NCERT is teaching Class 8 students about judicial corruption, the report added.

"As head of the institution. I have done my duty and I have taken cognizance," Justice Kant said in the report.

Another senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi also criticised the NCERT Class 8 textbook contents on judicial corruption, and said: “The selectivity my lord. The selectivity.. it is there in other areas also but judicial corruption!.”