On Friday, the Supreme Court recalled its earlier directions blacklisting three academicians associated with a controversial NCERT Class 8 textbook chapter on corruption in the judiciary, while also withdrawing observations that they had deliberately misrepresented facts, after the earlier directions requiring governments, universities and educational institutions to dissociate themselves from the experts sparked concerns over their academic standing and professional reputation.
The controversy originated after a newspaper report highlighted portions of the NCERT textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond, dealing with “corruption in the judiciary.” Taking suo motu cognisance of the issue earlier this year, the Apex Court had observed that the chapter undermined the dignity of the judiciary and subsequently imposed a ban on the production and distribution of the book. NCERT later withdrew the disputed content, apologised for the chapter, and informed the Court that the portion would be redrafted after expert consultation. The Court had thereafter directed that the three experts associated with drafting the chapter, Professor Michel Danino, Suparna Diwakar and Alok Prasanna Kumar, should not be associated with curriculum preparation or textbook finalisation in India. Challenging those directions, the experts argued that the earlier observations were passed without hearing them and would cause severe professional damage.
The Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi clarified that while the contents of the textbook chapter remained “wholly undesirable and unnecessary,” the explanations furnished by the experts warranted reconsideration of the earlier directions. The Court observed that remedial measures had already been initiated through a committee headed by a former Supreme Court judge, and therefore the earlier blacklisting direction deserved to be recalled.
The Court stated, “we deem it appropriate to modify paragraph 8 of the order and recall the direction issued to the Government of India, the State Governments, Union Territories, universities, and educational institutions to disassociate themselves from the applicants in academic activities.” The Bench also withdrew its earlier observation suggesting deliberate misrepresentation by the experts, while leaving it open to governments and competent authorities to independently decide future associations with them.
Source PTI
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