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Supreme Court halts textbook distribution over controversial chapter
India's Supreme Court has imposed a complete ban on a revised school textbook after a chapter accused the judiciary of corruption, calling its content "extremely contemptuous" and "reckless."
Court orders blanket ban
On Thursday, the court prohibited any further publication, reprinting, or digital distribution of the book, as reported by legal news outlet LiveLaw. The ruling came after Chief Justice Surya Kant criticized the textbook during a hearing, warning that its claims could harm the judiciary's reputation.
The judges also issued notices to the top bureaucrat in the school education department and the director of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), demanding an explanation for the inclusion of the "offending chapter." The court threatened contempt proceedings if the officials failed to justify their actions.
Controversial chapter sparks outrage
The dispute centers on a chapter titled "The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society," part of an eighth-grade social science textbook. The section reportedly references "corruption at various levels of the judiciary" and highlights the "massive backlog" of over 53 million pending cases in Indian courts.
The textbook attributes judicial delays to factors such as an insufficient number of judges, complex legal procedures, and inadequate infrastructure.
Legal community reacts sharply
The chapter drew strong criticism from lawyers, who called its content "scandalous" and disrespectful. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal expressed concern that schoolchildren were being taught the judiciary was corrupt, while another prominent lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, argued the text was one-sided, ignoring corruption in politics and bureaucracy.
"I will not allow anyone on Earth to taint the integrity and defame the entire institution," Chief Justice Surya Kant declared during Wednesday's hearing.
NCERT apologizes, withdraws textbook
Hours after the court's criticism, NCERT issued a statement expressing "regret" for what it termed an "error in judgment." The organization acknowledged that the controversial content had "inadvertently crept" into the chapter and immediately withdrew the book from circulation.
As an autonomous body under the federal education ministry, NCERT designs syllabi and textbooks for millions of students under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Its materials are widely used across India, including by state education boards and private schools.
Broader implications
The case has reignited debates over educational content and institutional accountability. While the judiciary's backlog and systemic challenges remain well-documented, critics argue the textbook's framing risked undermining public trust in the legal system.
