The Central government has announced the formation of a three-member expert committee aimed at rewriting the chapter on the judiciary found in the NCERT Class 8 textbook. This decision follows a controversy regarding the content’s representation.

The committee includes notable figures such as former Attorney General KK Venugopal, former Supreme Court judge Indu Malhotra, and Justice Aniruddha Bose. The panel’s objective is to ensure that the chapter is accurate and provides a balanced depiction for students in schools.

Background of the Controversy

The controversy surfaced after a particular section in the textbook made references to “corruption in the judiciary,” which led to considerable backlash. Critics expressed concerns regarding the portrayal of the judiciary to young learners.

The issue gained significant attention when it was publicly raised, prompting the Supreme Court to intervene by taking suo motu cognizance of the matter. Subsequently, the court sought explanations from both the Centre and NCERT regarding the inclusion of such contentious content in an educational resource.

Response from NCERT

In response to the Supreme Court’s intervention, NCERT recognized the problem and decided to withdraw the chapter immediately. Additionally, the Supreme Court intervened to halt the sale of the textbook containing the disputed content, effectively stopping its circulation. This interim measure was enacted to mitigate any further confusion among students and parents while the issue was under scrutiny.

Supreme Court Proceedings

During a recent hearing, the Centre informed the Supreme Court of the establishment of the expert panel. The court acknowledged this development and subsequently closed its suo motu proceedings concerning the case. The assurance of a revised chapter from the expert committee seemed to satisfy the concerns raised previously.

Future Actions by the Expert Committee

The expert committee is now tasked with reviewing the contested content and preparing a revised version of the chapter for inclusion in the curriculum. This incident underscores the importance of scrutinizing educational materials, especially when they address sensitive topics such as the judicial system. The revisions are anticipated to better reflect the integrity of the judiciary while educating young students.

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