In a dramatic hearing on Thursday, the Supreme Court of India imposed a blanket ban on a Class 8 Social Science textbook published by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) after taking serious exception to a chapter referring to “corruption in judiciary.”
The Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, called the publication a “deep-rooted conspiracy” and warned that responsibility would be fixed.
“We need to find who is responsible. Heads must roll. We will not close the case,” the Chief Justice said in open court.
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Background of the Case
The controversy centres on the Class 8 book titled Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Vol. 2). One chapter, meant to explain the role of the judiciary, included references to corruption allegations and case backlogs.
The issue was first mentioned before the court by senior lawyers earlier this week. The Bench revealed that it had already taken suo motu (on its own) notice of the matter after media reports highlighted the contents.
NCERT later issued a press note stating that certain portions reflected an “error of judgment” and that the chapter would be rewritten. However, the court found the response inadequate.
Court’s Sharp Observations
During the hearing, the Bench said the wording of the chapter appeared “lopsided” and failed to acknowledge the judiciary’s role in protecting constitutional principles and democratic values.
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“It seems to us that there is a calculated move to undermine the institutional authority and demean the dignity of the judiciary,” the Bench observed.
The judges clarified that they were not against legitimate criticism. “We do not propose these proceedings to stifle any genuine critique. Rigorous public discussion strengthens institutions,” the order noted. “But exposing impressionable students to a biased narrative at this age is improper.”
The court also expressed displeasure over a communication sent by the NCERT Director defending the content. “Instead of introspection, there was a defense. This was extremely contemptuous and reckless,” the Chief Justice remarked.
The Bench said that if the publication was found to be deliberate, it could amount to criminal contempt - a serious charge involving interference with the administration of justice or scandalising the court.
Contempt Notice and Ban
Invoking its powers under the Contempt of Courts Act, the court issued show-cause notices to the Secretary of the Department of School Education and the NCERT Director, Dr. Dinesh Prasad Saklani. They have been asked to explain why action should not be initiated against them or others involved.
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The court ordered:
- Immediate seizure of all physical copies of the book from schools, retail outlets and storage.
- Removal of digital copies from websites and online platforms.
- A complete ban on further publication, reprinting or distribution, in any form.
- Filing of compliance reports within two weeks by State education departments.
“It shall be the personal responsibility of the NCERT Director and principals of schools to ensure seizure and sealing of copies,” the order stated.
The court also directed NCERT to submit the names and credentials of members of the National Syllabi Board who drafted the chapter, along with the original minutes of meetings where the content was discussed and finalised.
Exchanges in Court
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, tendered an unconditional apology at the outset. He informed the court that 32 copies had reached the market and were being retrieved.
However, the Chief Justice pointed out that the official press release did not contain “a single word of apology.”
When the government assured that the individuals involved would not be associated with future projects, the Chief Justice responded sharply: “That is very easy. They fired the gunshot. The judiciary is bleeding today.”
Justice Bagchi also noted that parts of the material were circulating online and suggested take-down orders.
The Chief Justice thanked the media for bringing the matter to light, stating, “We are thankful to the media. They highlighted this.”
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Decision
The court imposed a blanket ban on the textbook, ordered seizure and removal of all copies, issued contempt notices to senior officials, and sought detailed records of how the chapter was approved.
The matter will be listed again after four weeks for further consideration upon receipt of compliance reports and documents.
The proceedings remain pending.
Case Title: In Re: Social Science Textbook for Grade-8 (Part 2) published by NCERT and ancillary issues
Case No.: SMW (C) 1/2026
Decision Date: February 26, 2026
