New Delhi: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has pulled its new class 8 social science textbook from the shelves as it contains a chapter on “judicial corruption”, sources told ANI on Wednesday.The move came hours after the matter was raised in the Supreme Court, with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asserting that no one can “defame” the judiciary. The Supreme Court also initiated “suo moto” litigation over the inclusion of the section in textbooks.ALSO READ | ‘No one will be allowed to defame SC’: CJI withdraws NCERT text over judicial corruption“I’m totally aware of that. We’ll wait a day. It’s absolutely about the entire institution – both the attorneys and the judges. I’m getting a lot of calls, a lot of messages. I am becoming fully aware of this issue. I will not let anyone, no matter how high their stature, malign this institution,” CJI Kant said.Senior lawyers Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi raised the issue before the CJI-led bench. They argue that students are taught about judicial corruption as if corruption does not exist in other institutions. “They ignore bureaucracy, politics, etc. Not a word is said about other areas. They teach as if it exists only in this institution,” two senior lawyers observed.The CJI acknowledged the seriousness of the matter, calling it “a well-planned and deep-rooted matter,” adding, “We will not say more. As the head of the agency, I know that I am already taking action.”The inclusion of this chapter marks a significant shift from previous editions, which focused primarily on the structure and role of courts. The revised chapter, titled “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society,” not only explains the hierarchy of courts and access to justice, but also addresses challenges facing the justice system, including corruption and backlog of cases.
