New Delhi, Feb 26: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday pledged to take strict action against those responsible for a controversial chapter on judicial corruption in a Class 8 NCERT textbook. The Minister’s remarks followed a Supreme Court ruling that described the content as part of a “well-orchestrated conspiracy” to defame the judiciary.
Addressing reporters in Jamshedpur, Minister Pradhan stated that the government maintains full respect for the judicial institution and never intended to cause disrespect. He affirmed that an internal inquiry would be conducted to fix accountability and that officials involved in drafting the sensitive portions would face consequences. The Minister declared that the government has taken the issue very seriously and will comply fully with the directives of the court.
The Supreme Court, led by a bench under Chief Justice Surya Kant, has imposed a complete blanket ban on the textbook, ordering the seizure of all physical and digital copies. The bench, which also included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, asserted that the judiciary was “bleeding” due to the allegations presented in the curriculum. The court has since issued show-cause notices to the NCERT director and the secretary of the department of school education to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has already issued an apology for the “inappropriate content” and removed the textbook from its official website. The council maintained that the book would be rewritten in consultation with appropriate authorities to ensure accuracy and respect for national institutions.
Minister Pradhan noted that the circulation of the textbooks was halted as soon as the administration became aware of the situation. He maintained that the government’s priority is to uphold the integrity of the judiciary while ensuring the educational curriculum remains objective and respectful.
