NCERT Textbook Controversy: The Supreme Court on Thursday strongly objected to the NCERT’s Class 8 social science textbook containing a section on “corruption in the judiciary.”
The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, indicated it would order a thorough investigation into the matter.
The bench said accountability would be fixed, calling the issue a possible “deep conspiracy,” and warned that those responsible would be brought to justice.
“We would like to have a deeper probe. We need to find who is responsible and we will see who are there. Heads must roll! We will not close the case,” BarandBench quoted CJI Kant as saying.
Apart from this, the Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to the Secretary of the Department of Education and Literacy (Ministry of Education) and NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani, asking why action should not be taken on this issue under contempt or other laws.
Probe into committee credentials and conspiracy
The Supreme Court has also directed NCERT to submit detailed records of the Teaching-Learning Materials Committee that approved the chapter, including the names, qualifications and credentials of all the members of the development team.
Supreme Court orders immediate recall of textbooks
The Supreme Court also ordered the removal of the book, both hard and soft copies, from public access.
“The NCERT in coordination with Union and State education departments are directed to ensure that all copies of the book, hard copy or soft copy, whether held in retail outlets or schools is removed from public access. Must be removed from all physical and digital platforms immediately. A compliance report to be filed. It will be the responsibility of director NCERT to effectuate immediate seizure of all such books sent to the premises of such schools and submit a compliance report. We direct that no instruction is imparted based on the physical or digital copy of the subject book. Principal secretaries of department of education of all States are directed to comply with directions issued here in and submit compliance report within 2 weeks,” Bar and Bench quoted the court as ordering.
NCERT’s apology and withdrawal
NCERT had earlier apologised and said it would review and revise the chapter after due consultation, admitting that the mention of corruption reflected an error of judgment. The National Council of Educational Research and Training also withdrew the distribution of the newly released Class 8 Social Science textbook following the controversy.
