Months after the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) withdrew a Class 8 Social Science textbook following objections over its discussion of judicial corruption, the council’s new Class 9 Political Science textbook has described the judiciary as an “impartial and independent institution” responsible for safeguarding citizens’ rights and upholding the Constitution.

The revised textbook, introduced as part of the curriculum developed under the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), explains the separation of powers and highlights the judiciary’s role in reviewing executive actions, invalidating unconstitutional laws, protecting fundamental rights and preserving democratic values.

Class 9 Textbook Highlights Independence Of Judiciary

The new Political Science textbook explains that the judiciary functions independently of the legislature and executive under the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers.

“The judiciary is an impartial and independent institution that safeguards the rights of citizens and upholds the spirit of the Constitution,” the textbook states.

The book also highlights the courts’ authority to scrutinise actions of the executive and review constitutional amendments.

“The judiciary reviews executive actions and constitutional amendments, can invalidate laws that violate the Constitution, and upholds the Constitution,” it reads.

The textbook describes the judiciary as a key constitutional institution responsible for protecting fundamental rights and maintaining democratic principles.

Textbook Highlights Role Of PILs In Ensuring Access To Justice

The Class 9 textbook also discusses the judiciary’s role in protecting the rights of different sections of society and promoting democratic values.

“The judiciary plays a vital role in protecting and promoting democratic values and the rights of all sections of society. The judiciary takes up Public Interest Litigations (PILs) from time to time to ensure access to justice for all,” the book states.

According to the textbook, courts can review executive actions and constitutional amendments, strike down laws that violate the Constitution and entertain PILs to expand access to justice.

Class 8 Textbook Was Withdrawn After Supreme Court Intervention

The description of the judiciary in the Class 9 textbook comes months after controversy erupted over an NCERT Class 8 Social Science book that discussed challenges facing the judicial system.

The Class 8 textbook contained a section addressing issues including corruption, case backlogs and declining public confidence in the judiciary.

The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the textbook’s contents and described parts of the chapter as objectionable.

The court subsequently directed that the publication, reprinting and digital circulation of the textbook be stopped.

Following the Supreme Court’s intervention, NCERT withdrew physical and digital copies of the Class 8 textbook and issued an unconditional apology.

The Supreme Court had observed that the chapter contained “offending” material relating to the judiciary.

NCERT Says Constitutional Concepts Spread Across Different Grades

NCERT has maintained that the Class 9 Political Science textbook is part of a redesigned curriculum introduced under the National Curriculum Framework.

Under the revised approach, constitutional themes are taught progressively across different grades instead of being covered comprehensively in a single textbook.

The council has said concepts including justice, liberty, secularism and socialism continue to remain part of the curriculum and are introduced to students at different stages of their education.

The new Class 9 textbook’s emphasis on judicial independence comes months after the withdrawal of the Class 8 chapter that discussed corruption and other challenges facing the judiciary.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share