SC bans NCERT Class 8 book over chapter on judicial corruption

Observing that there appeared to be a well orchestrated conspiracy to defame the judiciary the Supreme Court on Thursday imposed a complete blanket ban on the Class 8 NCERT book with a chapter on corruption in the judiciary and ordered that all copies physical and digital be seizedThey have fired the gunshot The judiciary is bleeding a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said a day after the National Council of Educational Research amp Training apologised for inappropriate content in the social science textbook and said it would be rewritten in consultation with appropriate authoritiesThe bench also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi issued show cause notices to the NCERT director and the secretary of the department of school education and asked them to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against those responsibleReferring to the NCERTs communication on Wednesday the CJI said That itself shows deeprooted conspiracy a wellorchestrated conspiracyIn its stern comments the bench added that there seemed to be a calculated move to undermine the institution and demean the dignity of judiciary It warned of serious action if its directions are defied in any mannerReferring to the contents of the book the bench observed that such misconduct having everlasting impact on the judiciary would fall within the definition of criminal contempt This would erode peoples faith in the judiciary if allowed to go unchecked the apex court saidIt is my duty as the head of the institution to find out who is responsible heads must roll the CJI said adding We would like to have a deeper probeThe bench then directed that the NCERT in coordination with the education departments of the Centre and states ensure that all copies of the book either hard or soft copy are removed from public accessAs an abundant precaution a complete blanket ban is imposed on any further publication reprinting or digital dissemination of the book the bench saidIt said any attempt to distribute the book either physically or digitally shall be taken as a willful defiance of the courts orderA section titled Corruption in the Judiciary in the new textbook says corruption a massive backlog of cases and the lack of an adequate number of judges are among the challenges faced by the judicial system It also states that judges are bound by a code of conduct that governs not only their behaviour in court but also how they conduct themselves outside itThe Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the matter on WednesdayOn Thursday it made clear that the proceedings were not meant to stifle any legitimate criticism or the exercise of right to scrutinise the judiciaryAt the outset Solicitor General Tushar Mehta tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology on behalf of the Ministry of EducationThe CJI however was unconvinced He said there was not a single word of apology in the NCERTs communication and it instead tried to justify the chapterThe bench observed it seemed that the choice of words and expressions in the book cannot be said to be an inadvertent or bonafide error The top court observed it was fundamentally improper to expose students to biased narrative at this age which might lead to fundamental misconceptionsThe bench posted the matter for further hearing on March 11The CJI on Wednesday said nobody on earth would be allowed to defame the judiciary and taint its integrityAt any cost I will not permit it Howsoever high it may be the law will take its course I know how to deal with it a visibly irked CJI had said after senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi mentioned the matterThe council responsible for school education curriculum put on hold the circulation of the textbook hours after it took the book off its website on Wednesday It said it holds the judiciary in highest esteem and considers it to be the upholder of the Indian Constitution and protector of fundamental rights and termed the error purely unintentionalThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever