Overview Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal addressed the Justice Unplugged 2026 conference, organised by The Hindu and VIT School of Law, on the theme “Constitutional Morality and the Supreme Court of India: Has the Court Moved from Constitutionalism to Pragmatism?”. He condemned the inclusion of a chapter on “corruption in the judiciary” in the Class‑8 NCERT textbook, calling it a selective attack that undermines public confidence in the courts. Key Developments The Supreme Court, in a suo motu case, ordered the seizure of all hard‑copy and digital versions of the contested NCERT chapter, labeling it an attempt to scandalise the judiciary. Sibal argued that the chapter’s focus on judicial corruption, without mentioning systemic corruption in politics, bureaucracy and investigative agencies, creates a biased narrative for 13‑14‑year‑old students. He highlighted the erosion of constitutional morality and the Supreme Court’s reluctance to entertain matters of communal speech, caste‑based violence, and student protests at the highest level. Sibal warned that the judiciary’s perceived capture threatens the democratic fabric and calls for the Court to exercise its power under Article 32 rather than delegating cases to High Courts. Important Facts The conference featured a dialogue between Sibal and M Ram , Director of The Hindu Group. Sibal noted that the chapter, if placed in a broader context of societal corruption, would not have attracted controversy. He also cited recent incidents such as the arrests of JNU students and protestors at the AI Impact Summit, alleging misuse of agencies like the Enforcement Directorate under the PMLA and the UAPA to target opposition leaders while shielding ruling‑party officials. UPSC Relevance Understanding Sibal’s critique is vital for GS‑2 (Polity) and GS‑4 (Ethics) preparation. The episode illustrates: The role of Supreme Court in safeguarding constitutional values and its interaction with educational policy. The concept of constitutional morality versus political pragmatism. The impact of textbook content on civic education, a recurring theme in debates on secularism, minority rights, and the integrity of democratic institutions. Way Forward For aspirants, the key take‑aways are: Advocate a balanced curriculum that presents corruption as a systemic issue, not a single‑institution problem. Monitor judicial activism and the Court’s willingness to invoke Article 32 in matters of public interest. Analyse how the misuse of enforcement agencies can erode public trust and affect the rule of law, a core component of constitutional morality. By linking textbook controversies to broader constitutional debates, candidates can develop nuanced answers for essay and interview questions on governance, judicial independence, and civic education.