The Supreme Court on Wednesday (March 11) ordered the central government and states to disavow NCERT Social Science Curriculum Chairman Professor Michel Denin and two other associate members who were behind the ‘Corruption in Judiciary’ chapter in the Class 8 Social Science textbook, ANI reported.
These three were dissuaded from preparing the syllabus or finalizing the textbook or rendering any service to NCERT even for future generations if it meant payment for them from public funds.
The order was passed by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant.
The court observed that: “Initially, we have no reason to doubt that Professor Michel Danino along with Ms. Diwakar and Mr. Alok Prasanna Kumar either do not have adequate knowledge of Indian Judiciary or have deliberately misrepresented the facts to project a negative image of Indian Judiciary before Class 8 students who are of impressionable age.”
“There is no reason why such persons should be associated in any way with the preparation of the curriculum or the completion of the textbook for the next generation. We order the unions, all states, all institutions receiving state funds to dissociate them from rendering any service that would entail payment for them from public funds,” the court said.
The Center was also directed to form a panel of experts to finalize the syllabus related to legal topics in NCERT textbooks.
While the Supreme Court noted that Chapter 4 had been rewritten, it argued that it could not be included in school studies without the approval of the commission.
“We find it mildly disappointing that not a single eminent lawyer is included in the committee,” the Bench observed, adding, “We direct that if Chapter 4 of the textbook is rewritten, it shall not be published unless approved by a committee of experts in the field.”
“We hasten to reiterate paragraph 9 of our February 26 order to show that the interim directions issued are not intended to prevent healthy, objective and legitimate criticism of the functioning of the judiciary. If the judiciary suffers from any shortcomings like any other institution, it will be a welcome step not only for the future generation of the nation,” nay, the court will open the door necessary to remedy the present generation.
The case of the “Corruption in the Judiciary” chapter.
The Supreme Court on February 26 imposed a blanket ban on the publication, reprinting or digital distribution of a class 8 social science book that it said contained “offensive” content about corruption in the judiciary.
The court said it was like a gunshot and the judiciary was now “bleeding”.
