BREAKING | Supreme Court sees ‘Deep Rooted Conspiracy’ in NCERT Chapter, orders seizure of all Copies

On Thursday, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of a Class 8 social science textbook by NCERT containing a chapter on “corruption in the judiciary,” calling it a “deep-rooted conspiracy” and issuing an unconditional apology from the Central Government. The Bench directed immediate removal of all hard and digital copies, and sought to identify those responsible, signaling serious legal and institutional consequences.

The controversy arose from Chapter 4, titled “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society,” which portrayed the judiciary in a selective and critical light while ignoring its landmark contributions, including upholding the basic structure doctrine and curbing corruption in public office. The Court noted that the chapter’s language “may not be simpliciter inadvertent or bona fide error” and criticized attempts by the University Grants Commission to defend the content after it surfaced. NCERT acknowledged the error, halted distribution, and promised to rewrite the section after consultation.

The Bench, led by CJI Surya Kant and comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi, emphasized the danger of presenting biased narratives to students. It observed that “it seems to us that there is a calculated move to undermine the institutional authority and demean the dignity of the judiciary,” warning that such conduct, if deliberate, could amount to criminal contempt and erode public trust in the courts. Notices under the Contempt of Courts Act were issued to NCERT and the Department of School Education, with strict compliance reports demanded within two weeks.

The Court made it clear that the proceedings are not meant to stifle legitimate critique but to safeguard education and institutional integrity. Directives include a blanket ban on the book’s production and distribution, immediate withdrawal from schools and retail outlets, and identification of members of the National Syllabi Board responsible for the chapter. “We would like to have a deeper probe. We need to find who is responsible and we will see who are there. Heads must roll! We will not close the case,” CJI Kant stated.