The Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of the contents of a Class 8 Social Science textbook published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), expressing strong prima facie concern that a chapter discussing “corruption in the judiciary” may undermine the institutional dignity of courts and potentially amount to criminal contempt.
The matter was heard by a Bench comprising the Chief Justice of India, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi after a report in The Indian Express dated February 24, 2026 highlighted the contents of the newly released Grade 8 Social Science (Part 2) textbook titled “Exploring Society: India and Beyond.” Chapter 4 of the book, “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society,” contains a sub-section explicitly dealing with “Corruption in the Judiciary.”
The Court said the framers of the Constitution had carefully structured institutional autonomy among the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary, and that any material capable of eroding public confidence in one of these pillars required careful scrutiny. The Bench observed that while legitimate criticism of institutions is part of democratic discourse, embedding what it described as a potentially “biased narrative” in a nationwide middle school curriculum raises serious concerns, particularly given the impressionable age of students.
The Court noted that the chapter reportedly refers to hundreds of complaints against members of the judiciary and quotes selectively from a former Chief Justice of India, suggesting lack of transparency and institutional corruption. It also refers to the experience of corruption at various judicial levels. According to the Bench, the text appears to omit discussion of the judiciary’s contributions to constitutional governance, including its role in upholding constitutional morality and foundational doctrines, and does not reflect transformative judicial initiatives in access to justice.
On a prima facie reading of the textbook and the response submitted by NCERT’s Director defending its contents, the Court observed that the material could reveal an underlying agenda to undermine the authority and dignity of the judiciary. If such intent is established, the Bench said, the matter could fall within the definition of criminal contempt under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, including scandalising the institution and interfering with the administration of justice.
The Court clarified that it was not initiating proceedings to suppress legitimate criticism or democratic dissent. However, it emphasised that curricular material for young students must adhere to standards of balanced pedagogy and should not foster misconceptions about constitutional institutions.
During the hearing, the Solicitor General placed on record a press release issued by NCERT stating that, following directions from the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education, distribution of the textbook had been put on hold. The press note further stated that the chapter in question would be rewritten in consultation with appropriate authorities and that an apology had been tendered. The Court said it would consider at an appropriate stage whether the apology was genuine or an attempt to evade consequences.
The Bench issued show-cause notices to the Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, and to Professor (Dr.) Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director of NCERT, asking why action under the Contempt of Courts Act or other penal provisions should not be initiated against them and others responsible for introducing the chapter.
In sweeping interim directions, the Court ordered that all physical and digital copies of the textbook currently in circulation, including those in storage, retail outlets and educational institutions, be seized and removed from public access. The Union Government and its agencies were directed to ensure immediate removal of the book from all physical and digital platforms and to file a compliance affidavit.
The Court further held the Director of NCERT and principals of all schools where the book had been circulated personally responsible for seizing and sealing copies within their premises and ensuring that no further instruction is imparted based on the text. Principal Secretaries of Education across States and Union Territories have been directed to submit compliance affidavits within two weeks.
As an additional precaution, the Bench imposed a complete ban on further printing or digital dissemination of the book under its existing title or any alternative title containing the same content, warning that any attempt to circumvent the order would be treated as wilful defiance and direct interference with the Court’s directions.
The Director of NCERT has also been directed to place on record the names and details of members of the National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee who approved the chapter, the credentials of the textbook development team, and the minutes of meetings where the chapter was deliberated and finalised.
The matter has been listed for further consideration on March 11, 2026.
Appearances
Mr. Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General
Mr. Kapil Sibal, Sr. Adv.
Mr. Vikas Singh, Sr. Adv.
Mr. Gaurav Kumar, Adv.
Mr. Naman Sherstra, Adv.
Dr. Vivek Sharma, Adv.
