The Supreme Court of India has imposed a blanket ban on a revised Class 8 Social Science textbook published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), following controversy over a chapter that discussed alleged corruption within the judiciary.
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In response, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the government would “fully comply” with the court’s directions.
“We respect the judiciary, and whatever the court has said, we will fully comply with it. I am deeply saddened by what has happened and express my regret over the incident,” Pradhan said while speaking in Jamshedpur.
Court Orders Immediate Withdrawal of Textbook
The Supreme Court directed that the production and distribution of the revised Class 8 Social Science Part 2 textbook be halted immediately.
Moreover, it ordered the removal of all physical and digital copies from public access. Schools have been instructed not to use the withdrawn book for classroom instruction.
The NCERT Director has been tasked with ensuring that copies already sent to schools are seized and that a compliance report is submitted. Additionally, Principal Secretaries of Education in all states must implement the order and file reports within two weeks.
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The court also sought the names and credentials of individuals involved in drafting the chapter and demanded the original minutes of meetings where the content was finalised. A show cause notice was issued to senior officials, asking why action — including proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act — should not be initiated.
Minister Assures Inquiry and Action
Dharmendra Pradhan stated that corrective steps were initiated as soon as the issue came to his attention.
“There was absolutely no intention to disrespect the judiciary, and the government had no such motive. We are taking this matter seriously, and an inquiry will be conducted,” he said.
He further added that those involved in preparing the book and the concerned chapter would face appropriate action. “We have complete faith in the judiciary. It is our constitutional and moral responsibility to abide by its directions,” he said.
What Sparked the NCERT Textbook Controversy?
The controversy centred on a chapter titled “The Role of Judiciary in our Society” in the 2026 edition of the Class 8 Social Science textbook.
The chapter referenced corruption allegations within the judiciary and discussed case backlogs — citing thousands of pending cases in the Supreme Court, lakhs in High Courts and crores in district courts. It also explained the constitutional process for impeachment of judges.
Following objections, NCERT halted distribution of the book. Of the 2.25 lakh copies printed, only 38 were reportedly sold before the recall began.
What began as a curriculum update aligned with National Education Policy reforms has now escalated into a matter involving judicial scrutiny, administrative accountability and wider debate over institutional representation in school textbooks.
