The Crossbill News Desk
A fresh controversy over school curriculum erupted this week after the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) withdrew its newly published Class 8 Social Science textbook from circulation following sharp observations from the Supreme Court of India regarding a section that referred to “corruption in the judiciary”. Education Ministry sources confirmed on Wednesday that the book had been pulled from sale, a day after the matter was raised in court.
The issue came up before a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Tuesday. According to Live Law, the Chief Justice described the reference as a “calculated and deep-rooted” attempt to defame the institution.
News18 reported that he made it clear he would not permit any attack on the judiciary’s integrity and indicated he might initiate proceedings on his own motion.
“I know how to deal with it. It seems to be a calculated measure,” he observed in court.
The matter was flagged by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who expressed concern over introducing the theme of judicial corruption to Class 8 students.
“NCERT is teaching class 8 students about judicial corruption. This is a matter of grave concern. We are here for the bar,” Sibal told the court, reported Bar and Bench.
India Today reported that Sibal told the court that senior members of the Bar were “very disturbed” by the content. Singhvi argued that the reference appeared selective, questioning why there was no corresponding discussion of corruption among politicians, ministers or bureaucrats.
The Hindu reported that the Chief Justice, visibly annoyed, said both advocates and judges were perturbed and that he had received numerous calls, including from High Court judges.
“I will not allow anybody to defame the institution. Law will take its course,” he said, adding that he had already taken cognisance of the issue.
Justice Joymalya Bagchi, who was also on the Bench, is reported to have indicated that the reference in the schoolbook raised issues concerning constitutional integrity and the principle of separation of powers, which forms part of the Basic Structure doctrine.
The controversy centres on a revised Social Science textbook chapter titled “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society”.
As first reported by The Indian Express, the chapter lists “corruption at various levels of the judiciary” and a “massive backlog” of cases as challenges facing the system. It attributes delays to factors such as a shortage of judges, complex legal procedures and inadequate infrastructure, and suggests these contribute to a public perception that justice is not being delivered.
According to NDTV, the chapter includes figures on pending cases—around 81,000 in the Supreme Court, over six million in High Courts and more than 40 million in district and subordinate courts. It also notes that judges are governed by a code of conduct and refers to internal accountability mechanisms, including complaint procedures.
The book further quotes former Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, who said in July 2025 that instances of corruption and misconduct harm public confidence and that trust can be restored through prompt and transparent action.
By Wednesday, however, The Indian Express reported that the publication was no longer available at the NCERT publications division counter at its Delhi campus, citing Education Ministry sources.
The episode unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing debates over changes to NCERT textbooks in recent years. Revisions have included deletions and additions in social science content, and in 2025 figures such as Tipu Sultan, Nur Jahan and Razia Sultan, along with the Anglo-Mysore wars, were removed from certain Class 8 history chapters.
Responding to questions in Parliament at the time, Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary stated: Education being a subject in the concurrent list of the Constitution and the majority of schools being under the jurisdiction of the state governments, the respective state government may adopt or adapt NCERT textbooks or develop their own textbooks based on the National Curriculum Framework. The states have flexibility to provide more coverage about regional personalities and events in their textbooks.
Given that NCERT textbooks are mandatory for schools affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education and widely used even beyond it, the dispute over the judiciary chapter has drawn heightened attention.
Bar leaders have sought deletion of the reference to judicial corruption, arguing that singling out one institution risks undermining its credibility. With the book now withdrawn, further clarity is awaited on whether the contentious section will be revised or removed before the textbook is reissued.
The issue came up before a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Tuesday. According to Live Law, the Chief Justice described the reference as a “calculated and deep-rooted” attempt to defame the institution.
News18 reported that he made it clear he would not permit any attack on the judiciary’s integrity and indicated he might initiate proceedings on his own motion.
“I know how to deal with it. It seems to be a calculated measure,” he observed in court.
The matter was flagged by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who expressed concern over introducing the theme of judicial corruption to Class 8 students.
“NCERT is teaching class 8 students about judicial corruption. This is a matter of grave concern. We are here for the bar,” Sibal told the court, reported Bar and Bench.
India Today reported that Sibal told the court that senior members of the Bar were “very disturbed” by the content. Singhvi argued that the reference appeared selective, questioning why there was no corresponding discussion of corruption among politicians, ministers or bureaucrats.
The Hindu reported that the Chief Justice, visibly annoyed, said both advocates and judges were perturbed and that he had received numerous calls, including from High Court judges.
“I will not allow anybody to defame the institution. Law will take its course,” he said, adding that he had already taken cognisance of the issue.
Justice Joymalya Bagchi, who was also on the Bench, is reported to have indicated that the reference in the schoolbook raised issues concerning constitutional integrity and the principle of separation of powers, which forms part of the Basic Structure doctrine.
The controversy centres on a revised Social Science textbook chapter titled “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society”.
As first reported by The Indian Express, the chapter lists “corruption at various levels of the judiciary” and a “massive backlog” of cases as challenges facing the system. It attributes delays to factors such as a shortage of judges, complex legal procedures and inadequate infrastructure, and suggests these contribute to a public perception that justice is not being delivered.
According to NDTV, the chapter includes figures on pending cases—around 81,000 in the Supreme Court, over six million in High Courts and more than 40 million in district and subordinate courts. It also notes that judges are governed by a code of conduct and refers to internal accountability mechanisms, including complaint procedures.
The book further quotes former Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, who said in July 2025 that instances of corruption and misconduct harm public confidence and that trust can be restored through prompt and transparent action.
By Wednesday, however, The Indian Express reported that the publication was no longer available at the NCERT publications division counter at its Delhi campus, citing Education Ministry sources.
The episode unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing debates over changes to NCERT textbooks in recent years. Revisions have included deletions and additions in social science content, and in 2025 figures such as Tipu Sultan, Nur Jahan and Razia Sultan, along with the Anglo-Mysore wars, were removed from certain Class 8 history chapters.
Responding to questions in Parliament at the time, Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary stated: Education being a subject in the concurrent list of the Constitution and the majority of schools being under the jurisdiction of the state governments, the respective state government may adopt or adapt NCERT textbooks or develop their own textbooks based on the National Curriculum Framework. The states have flexibility to provide more coverage about regional personalities and events in their textbooks.
Given that NCERT textbooks are mandatory for schools affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education and widely used even beyond it, the dispute over the judiciary chapter has drawn heightened attention.
Bar leaders have sought deletion of the reference to judicial corruption, arguing that singling out one institution risks undermining its credibility. With the book now withdrawn, further clarity is awaited on whether the contentious section will be revised or removed before the textbook is reissued.
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