The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday expressed “grave concern” over a new Class 8 Social Science chapter introduced by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) that discusses corruption in the judiciary.
Chief Justice Surya Kant underscored that the court would not allow anyone to “defame the institution” and indicated that he may initiate suo motu proceedings.
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“Please wait for a few days. Bar and Bench all are perturbed. All High Court judges are perturbed. I will take up the matter suo motu. I will not allow anybody to defame the institution. Law will take its course,” the Chief Justice said.
Lawyers Raise Concerns in Court
The court’s reaction followed submissions by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who informed the bench that the NCERT textbook includes a section on “judicial corruption”.
Earlier, Sibal wrote on X: “NCERT’s Class 8 book includes a section on corruption in the judiciary! What about the massive corruption of politicians, including ministers, public servants, investigation agencies, and why governments? Brush them under the carpet!”
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi also objected to what he described as “selectivity” in highlighting corruption in the judiciary.
At this stage, Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that the content “seems to go against the basic structure itself.”
What the NCERT Chapter Contains
The revised chapter, titled “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society”, marks a departure from earlier editions that largely focused on court hierarchy and access to justice.
The new content addresses challenges such as corruption and case backlog. It cites approximate pendency figures:
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Supreme Court – 81,000 cases
High Courts – 62,40,000 cases
District and subordinate courts – 4,70,00,000 cases
The chapter notes that judges are bound by a code of conduct covering both official and personal behaviour. It refers to the judiciary’s internal accountability framework and complaint mechanisms, including the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS).
It also states that both Union and state governments are taking measures to improve transparency, including the use of technology and action against proven instances of corruption.
Notably, the textbook quotes former Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, who in July 2025 remarked: “However, the path to rebuilding this trust lies in the swift, decisive and transparent action taken to address and resolve these issues… Transparency and accountability are democratic virtues.”
Complaints Against Judges: Law Ministry Data
The controversy comes days after the Ministry of Law and Justice informed Parliament that 7,528 complaints were received against sitting judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts between 2016 and 2025.
In a written reply dated February 14 to MP Matheswaran VS, the ministry clarified that complaints against members of the higher judiciary are handled through an “in-house mechanism” evolved by the judiciary.
Chief Justice Surya Kant, referring to the textbook issue, added: “As head of the institution. I have done my duty and I have taken cognisance. This seems to be a calculated move… I won’t say much.”
