The National Bar Council members have voiced robust support for the Supreme Court following its issuance of show cause notices to high-ranking officials at the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the Ministry of Education.
This action follows the controversial inclusion of a sub-chapter titled “Corruption in the judiciary” in an eighth-grade social science textbook. The Supreme Court directed the Secretary of the Department of Education and Literacy, as well as NCERT Director Dr. Dinesh Prashad Saklani, to explain why legal action should not be taken against them for contempt or other relevant violations.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, accompanied by Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, decided not to suspend the suo motu proceedings despite an apology from NCERT and has placed an immediate ban on the contested section.
Senior Advocate Pinky Anand endorsed the court’s intervention, claiming the controversial content seemed intentional. She asserted that the specific targeting of one institution deviates from educational integrity, stating, “You can’t do this in education and against the judiciary. CJI was right to take action in this case to protect the judiciary institution and law and order.”
Similarly, Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay expressed agreement with the judicial approach but suggested a more comprehensive overview of corruption. He emphasized that if NCERT chooses to include a chapter on corruption, it should encompass various sectors, not exclusively the judiciary. Upadhyay remarked, “Even the Supreme Court has mentioned in its judgments that corruption is the biggest threat to our democracy. We should talk about the corruption in every institution and how to tackle it.” This call advocates that discussions on corruption should address its implications nationwide rather than singling out the judiciary alone.
All India Bar Association described Supreme Court’s action as fitting
Adish C. Aggarwala, Chairman of the All India Bar Association, described the court’s action as fitting and necessary. He stated that there is a lack of evidence regarding corruption within the judiciary, pointing out that even if some instances existed, they should not be included in educational curricula. “This is really a lapse on the part of the senior officers of NCERT,” he noted.
Following the Supreme Court’s directives, NCERT has been mandated to present detailed records of the committee responsible for approving the contentious chapter. In response, the NCERT has ceased distribution of the textbook in question and issued an apology, affirming that the material will undergo a comprehensive review and revision after appropriate consultations.