The top court also issued a show-cause notice to the NCERT Director and the School Education Secretary, seeking explanations on why actions should not be taken against them. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta tendered an unconditional apology on behalf of the Ministry of Education.
CJI Surya Kant, reprimanding NCERT for the second consecutive day, stated, “It is my duty to find out who is responsible; heads must roll.” The court noted that NCERT had failed to offer any apology in its communications and instead attempted to justify the content, prompting the judiciary to call for a deeper probe.
The Supreme Court warned that serious action would follow if directions for a blanket ban on the textbook were ignored in any manner. The controversial chapter, titled “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society,” discussed judicial corruption, case backlogs, and the shortage of judges—drawing the court’s ire for allegedly tarnishing the reputation of India’s legal system.
Following the top court’s remarks, NCERT decided to withdraw the revised textbook and began retrieving the 38 copies sold out of 2.25 lakh printed. The organization cited “inappropriate textual material and an error of judgment” in the chapter on the judiciary as the reason for halting distribution. The issue had been flagged internally as well as by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Education Ministry.
The incident has sparked nationwide debate on the representation of India’s judiciary in educational material and the role of academic institutions in framing such narratives. Legal experts note that the Supreme Court’s stern response highlights the importance of balanced portrayal of public institutions in textbooks.
