NCERT Removes Class 8 Book After Judiciary Controversy

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has issued an unconditional apology over a controversial chapter on the judiciary in its Class 8 Social Science textbook. The chapter linked challenges in the judicial system to corruption and the huge backlog of cases. Following the backlash, NCERT withdrew the entire book from circulation. The council said the chapter had raised serious concerns and required correction.

In a formal statement on Tuesday, NCERT officials apologised for the content included in Chapter 4 of the textbook. The organisation clarified that it had withdrawn the entire book and made it unavailable to the public. It said the director and members of NCERT were offering an “unconditional and unqualified apology.” The council also assured that it would address the issue responsibly.

The apology came a day before the next hearing of the court’s suo motu case related to the textbook. The court had earlier ordered authorities to seize all physical copies and remove digital versions of the book. The directive specifically targeted the section discussing alleged corruption within the judiciary. The matter is scheduled for hearing on March 11.

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NCERT withdraws Social Science book amid row over judiciary chapter.

NCERT also expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to stakeholders. In a post on the social media platform X, the organisation reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining accuracy and sensitivity in educational content. It said it values feedback from educators and institutions. The council promised to uphold responsible standards in future publications.

NCERT had released the second part of the Social Science textbook on February 23. The book included a section discussing “judicial corruption.” However, the council withdrew the publication within hours on February 24 after only 32 copies were sold. The controversy quickly escalated and attracted judicial scrutiny.

The court took suo motu cognisance of the matter on February 25 after media reports highlighted the content. It later issued show-cause notices to the NCERT director and the school education department secretary. The court questioned why criminal contempt proceedings should not begin against them. It also expressed shock over the references made to complaints against judges.

The court directed NCERT, along with Union and state education departments, to immediately remove all copies of the book from public access. It also banned further production or distribution of the publication. Authorities warned that any attempt to circulate the textbook would violate the court’s order. Officials emphasised that such content could create misconceptions about the judiciary among students.

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