Supreme Court Suo Motu Action on NCERT Class‑8 Textbook
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of a Class‑8 social‑science textbook published by the NCERT. The book contained a chapter that allegedly scandalised the judiciary by referring to "corruption in the judiciary" and case backlogs.
Key Developments
- On Thursday, 26 February 2026, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi issued a show‑cause notice to the Secretary of School Education and the NCERT Director, asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated under the Contempt of Courts Act or any other law.
- The Court ordered an immediate ban on publication, re‑printing and digital dissemination of the offending chapter and directed seizure of all physical and soft copies in circulation.
- NCERT was instructed to submit the names and credentials of authors, editors and officials involved in drafting the chapter, along with minutes of the deliberations.
- The Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta informed the bench that NCERT had withdrawn the chapter and apologised, though the CJI noted the absence of a formal apology in the press release.
- Senior advocates, including Kapil Sibal and Vikas Singh, appeared before the bench, urging the Court to direct removal of soft‑copy PDFs circulating on social media.
Important Facts
The controversy began after media reports on 24 February 2026 highlighted the chapter’s references to judicial corruption and backlog statistics. The CJI described the episode as a "deep‑rooted, well‑orchestrated conspiracy" to malign the judiciary. The Court emphasized that the chapter omitted any mention of the judiciary’s positive contributions, thereby presenting a one‑sided narrative. While the bench clarified that it does not intend to stifle legitimate criticism, it warned that deliberate attempts to undermine judicial dignity could attract criminal contempt.
Exam Relevance
Understanding this episode is crucial for aspirants preparing for GS‑2 (Polity) and GS‑1 (Governance & Institutions). It illustrates:
- The scope of suo motu powers of the Supreme Court to protect institutional integrity.
- The application of the Contempt of Courts Act in safeguarding the dignity of the judiciary.
- The role of statutory bodies like NCERT in shaping educational content and the checks on them by the judiciary.
- The procedural hierarchy involving the Solicitor General and the Ministry of Education.
Way Forward
The Court has set a two‑week deadline for compliance reports from all state education departments. Pending the outcome of the contempt proceedings, NCERT is expected to rewrite the contested chapter after consulting appropriate authorities. The episode underscores the need for rigorous editorial review of school textbooks, especially on sensitive topics, and highlights the judiciary’s vigilance in preserving public confidence.