Here’s a concise summary of the controversy over
📌 What the Paragraph Said
- The Class VIII Social Science textbook included, for the first time, a section under a chapter on the judiciary that described “corruption in the judiciary” as one of the challenges facing the court system, alongside issues like massive case backlogs and shortage of judges.
- It mentioned figures on pending cases in various courts and discussed judicial accountability mechanisms and complaints processes.
⚖️ Supreme Court Reaction
- The Supreme Court of India — led by Chief Justice Surya Kant — took suo motu cognisance of this textbook content, saying it would not allow the institution of the judiciary to be “defamed” and raised strong objections to the way the judiciary was portrayed.
- The court has registered a case and is reviewing the matter, viewing the references as “objectionable”.
📚 NCERT & Government Response
- The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) pulled the textbook from sale and circulation and said the inclusion was an error of judgment.
- NCERT has apologised for the inappropriate material and stated it will rewrite the chapter in consultation with relevant authorities for future editions.
- Government sources also indicated the reference would be removed and affirmed respect for the judiciary.
🧠 Why It Matters
- The dispute highlights a sensitive debate about how constitutional bodies like the judiciary should be presented in school curricula and the balance between critical analysis and institutional respect.
Unsubstantiated allegations taking the form of text in a textbook for children can develop into a deep lack of faith in institutions which are the pillars of democracy.Text book writing has a tendency to be considered to be a source of truth.The printing of unsubstantiated allegations serve no useful purpose other than erosion of faith in institutions which have been providing a deep service to the country in the form of the last resort of a person who is turned away from every door.