SC bans NCERT Class 8 book over 'Judicial corruption' chapter, orders seizure and digital removal

The Supreme Court on Thursday imposed a blanket ban on the Class 8 NCERT social science textbook that carried a chapter on judicial corruption , ordering the seizure of all physical copies and removal of its digital versions. The apex court directed the Centre and state authorities to comply immediately and warned of “serious action” against anyone who disobeys the order.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant , issued show-cause notices to the NCERT director and the school education secretary to explain why action should not be taken against those responsible. The court said the chapter appeared to be a calculated attempt to undermine and demean the judiciary , noting that such misconduct could constitute criminal contempt. “No one will be allowed to go scot-free,” CJI Kant said, calling for accountability and warning that heads must roll . He added that there seemed to be a deep-rooted, well-planned conspiracy to defame the judiciary, and that the incident could erode public faith in the judicial system.

The controversy began after senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi flagged the chapter, leading the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance . The textbook highlighted challenges faced by the judiciary, including corruption , a massive backlog of cases , and a shortage of judges. It referred to internal accountability mechanisms, including the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) , which received over 1,600 complaints between 2017 and 2021. Former Chief Justice B R Gavai was quoted as saying that corruption had negatively impacted public confidence , while emphasizing that transparency and accountability are democratic virtues. Government sources noted that the quote was reportedly taken out of context .

Earlier this week, NCERT apologised for “inappropriate content” and announced that the chapter would be rewritten in consultation with appropriate authorities . A senior official said the error was purely unintentional and reiterated that NCERT “holds the judiciary in highest esteem” , stressing that the textbooks aim to promote constitutional literacy and democratic understanding among students. Circulation of the book had been put on hold , and the rewritten chapter will be released for the 2026-27 academic session .

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta tendered an unqualified apology on behalf of the Ministry of Education during the court proceedings. The matter has been posted for further hearing on March 11 . Former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar welcomed the Supreme Court’s action, noting it could help counter misinformation and safeguard the judiciary’s integrity.