SUPREME COURT BANS CLASS 8 TEXTBOOK

NEWS: The Supreme Court of India took serious action against a Class 8 NCERT Social Science textbook that contained a section related to “corruption in the judiciary”.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• The Court observed->possible “deep rooted conspiracy” behind the content.
• It called the depiction of the judiciary àa “very calculated move” to portray it as a corrupt or venal institution.
• Such contentà could instill bias in the “impressionable minds” of children and even influence society and future generations.

Key Judicial Observation 

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said:

• A deeper probe is needed to find who is responsible.
• If multiple people are involved, “heads must roll.”
• The Court will not close proceedings until satisfied.

Major Orders Given by the Supreme Court

• Complete Ban on the Textbook –> The Court ordered a “blanket and complete ban” on the concerned Class 8 textbook.
• Seizure of All Copies->Immediate seizure of all copies
  • Applies to both digital and physical formats
  • Copies to be sealed

initiated contempt proceedings

• The content wasà described as reckless, irresponsible, and contemptuous
• Undermined the institutional credibility of the judiciary
  • Contempt of Court = Any act that disrespects or lowers the authority and dignity of the judiciary.

Role of NCERT

• The textbook was published by NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training)
• NCERT is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education
• It prepares school textbooks across India
• The Court held that such a reputed institution must ensure balanced and responsible academic content.

Constitutional & Relevance

• Separation of PowersàThe case highlights the importance of: Judiciary’s independence, Respect for constitutional institutions
• Contempt Jurisdiction of Supreme Court Under: Article 129 – Supreme Court is a Court of Record and can punish for contempt.