Centre tells SC it has directed NCERT to review textbooks of all classes
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New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that it has directed the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to review textbooks of all classes.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi observed that it would have preferred the government to constitute an expert committee to review the curriculum instead of asking NCERT to conduct the review on its own.
The apex court was hearing a suo motu case related to an NCERT Class 8 social science textbook that allegedly contained “offending” content concerning corruption in the judiciary.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that the government has instructed NCERT to undertake a comprehensive review covering textbooks of all classes, not just Class 8. He assured the court that a panel of domain experts would be formed to examine the curriculum.
“We have started systemic changes,” Mehta said, adding that nothing would be published without being vetted by domain experts.
He also informed the court that the NCERT director has filed an affidavit offering an unconditional and unqualified apology.
On February 26, the Supreme Court imposed a “complete blanket ban” on further publication, reprinting, or digital dissemination of the Class 8 social science textbook, stating that it contained objectionable references to corruption in the judiciary. The court remarked that the content had “fired a gunshot” at the judiciary and that the institution was “bleeding”.
Observing that the issue appeared to involve a “deep-rooted conspiracy” and a “calculated move” to undermine the institution and demean the dignity of the judiciary, the court directed that all copies of the book currently in circulation be immediately seized and removed from public access without delay.
With PTI inputs