New Delhi: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has taken a strong stand against the inclusion of a section on corruption in judiciary in the new NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook, saying it could defame the institution of the judiciary. The Supreme Court, led by CJI Kant, has registered a suo motu case after senior advocates brought the issue before the court. The uproar has led NCERT to temporarily remove the textbook from its website and review the contested content.
Background of the Case
The revised Class 8 Social Science textbook included a chapter titled “The Role of Judiciary in Our Society”. This chapter listed “corruption in judiciary” as one of the major challenges facing the Indian judicial system, along with a massive backlog of cases and shortages of judges.
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Education experts say this section was meant to explain real challenges the judicial system faces in India. It cited statistics on pending cases and referenced judicial conduct rules and oversight mechanisms.
Supreme Court’s Response on NCERT Class 8 SST Chapter Row
On February 25, 2026, CJI Surya Kant and a three-judge Bench took suo motu cognisance of the issue after senior advocates, including Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, raised concerns in court. They said it was shocking that schoolchildren were being taught about judicial corruption while other institutions were not similarly discussed.
CJI Kant stated clearly that the Supreme Court “will not allow anyone to defame the judiciary or taint its integrity”, and that appropriate action would follow. He said many members of the legal fraternity, including high court judges, were “perturbed” by the textbook content.
NCERT Class 8 SST Chapter Row: Immediate Action
Following the Supreme Court’s objections, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) pulled down the Class 8 Social Science textbook from its official website. NCERT is also considering changes to the already printed copies, according to government sources.
Officials said the textbook is being reviewed internally, and controversial passages about the judiciary may be edited or removed altogether.
NCERT Class 8 SST Chapter Row: Points of Contention
Critics of the chapter argued the section was selective and imbalanced, highlighting judicial issues without similar references to corruption in other public institutions. The Supreme Court Bench raised concerns over whether such text could undermine public confidence in constitutional bodies among young students.
Supporters of academic freedom, however, argue that students should be made aware of real challenges in public institutions as part of social science education.
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