From Classroom to Courtroom: Supreme Court of India Takes Up NCERT ‘Judicial Corruption’ Issue Suo Motu
(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
New Delhi | February 26, 2026 — The Supreme Court of India has taken Suo motu cognizance of a controversial chapter in the new NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook, which contains references to “corruption in the judiciary.”
A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and including Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, termed the inclusion of such content a “deliberate and calculated measure” to defame the judicial institution. The court’s intervention followed an urgent mention by senior members of the Bar.
Key Highlights of the Proceedings:
- Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal flagged the issue, expressing deep concern that children as young as those in Class 8 are being taught about judicial corruption. He described the content as “absolutely scandalous” and a matter of grave concern for the entire legal fraternity.
- Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi echoed these sentiments, questioning the “selectivity” of the curriculum. He noted that the textbook appeared to single out the judiciary while remaining silent on corruption in other branches of governance, such as the executive or the legislature.
- CJI’s Strong Remarks: Chief Justice Surya Kant stated, “I will not allow anyone on earth to taint the integrity of the institution or defame it. I know how to deal with it.” He revealed that he had received numerous calls from perturbed High Court judges across the country regarding the matter.
Current Status:
Following the Supreme Court’s sharp rebuke, NCERT has pulled the textbook from its website and issued an apology, citing an “error of judgment.” The council has assured the court that the contentious portions—which also included a quote from former CJI B.R. Gavai allegedly taken out of context—will be removed or rewritten before the next academic session.
The matter is registered as In Re: Social Science Text Book for Grade 8 (Part 2) Published by NCERT and Ancillary Issues
