Indian Supreme Court bans Class 8 textbook over chapter on judicial corruption
An apex court bench ordered that all physical and digital copies of the book be seized.
India's Supreme Court today (26 February) imposed a "complete blanket ban" on a Class 8 social science textbook containing a chapter on corruption in the judiciary, observing that there appeared to be a "well-orchestrated conspiracy" to defame the institution.
An apex court bench ordered that all physical and digital copies of the book be seized. The textbook had been approved and published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) under the federal Indian government.
"They have fired the gunshot. The judiciary is bleeding," the bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant remarked during the hearing, a day after NCERT apologised for what it termed "inappropriate content" in the textbook and said it would be rewritten in consultation with appropriate authorities.
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The Indian government's Solicitor General Tushar Mehta tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology on behalf of the Ministry of Education.
The bench, which also included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, issued show-cause notices to the NCERT Director and the Secretary of the Department of School Education. They have been asked to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against those responsible for the content.
The court said there appeared to be a calculated move to undermine the institution and demean the dignity of the judiciary. It also observed that such misconduct, with a potentially lasting impact on public perception, could fall within the definition of criminal contempt.
"If allowed to go unchecked, this will erode people's faith in the judiciary. No one will be allowed to go scot-free," the bench said.
The chief justice said, "It is my duty as the head of the institution to find out who is responsible; heads must roll."
Meanwhile, India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, "We have utmost respect for the judiciary and the Supreme Court's directives will be complied with."
He said accountability will be fixed and action taken against those involved in drafting the chapter on judicial corruption.
