The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has issued a public apology after a chapter on Judiciary in the recently released Class 8 social studies textbook sparked controversy. The board withdrew the controversial chapter from the textbook.
NCERT has recently released a social science textbook ‘Exploring Society: India and Beyond’, 8th Year (Part II) which includes Chapter IV titled ‘Role of Judiciary in our Society’. The Director and members of NCERT hereby unconditionally and unreservedly apologize for the said Chapter IV. The entire book has been withdrawn and is not available,” NCERT said in a public apology shared on its X handle.
The apology comes days after the Supreme Court on Thursday imposed a blanket ban on the Class 8 NCERT book, which contains a chapter on corruption in the judiciary. The Supreme Court also ordered the seizure of all physical copies along with the removal of their digital versions during a hearing on February 26.
The Supreme Court ordered the Center and state authorities to comply with its directions immediately and warned of “serious action” if the directions are violated in any form.
We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and appreciate the understanding of all parties concerned, NCERT said in a press statement. “NCERT remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of accuracy, sensitivity and accountability in educational content,” it said in an apology.
What is NCERT Textbook Case?
The case pertains to a Class 8 social science textbook published by NCERT. The section caused controversy due to the inclusion of the “corruption of the judiciary” segment.
The textbook reportedly contained a passage on the subject in a chapter titled “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society.” LiveMint has not seen the textbook.
During a hearing on February 26, a bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said there appeared to be a “calculated move” to undermine the institution and degrade the dignity of the judiciary.
The court said such misconduct, which has a lasting impact on the judiciary, would fall under the definition of criminal contempt. “We would like to have a deeper probe,” the bench said.
