In a major development today, Wednesday, February 25, 2026, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has withdrawn its newly released Class 8 Social Science textbook from sale. The move comes immediately after the Supreme Court of India took suo motu cognisance of a controversial section in the book titled “Corruption in the Judiciary.”
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant expressed strong disapproval in open court, terming the inclusion of such content a “calculated and deep-rooted attempt” to defame the judicial institution.
The Controversy: What Was in the Book?
The revised textbook, titled Social Resources and Development, included a new chapter, “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society.” Unlike previous editions, this version explicitly discussed systemic failures:
- Judicial Corruption: The book stated that “people do experience corruption at various levels of the judiciary,” particularly affecting the poor’s access to justice.
- Massive Backlogs: It provided data on pending cases—81,000 in the Supreme Court, over 6.2 million in High Courts, and nearly 47 million in district courts.
- Misquoted CJI: The text included a quote from former CJI B. R. Gavai (from July 2025) regarding rebuilding public trust. Reports suggest the former CJI is “unhappy” as the quote was allegedly used out of context to support the narrative of “judicial corruption.”
Supreme Court’s Sharp Reaction
The matter was brought to the court’s attention by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who described the content as “scandallous” for 13-year-old students.
“I will not allow anyone on earth to taint the integrity of the institution and defame the institution. At any cost, I will not permit it. Howsoever high they be, the law will take its course,” CJI Surya Kant remarked, visibly irked.
Justice Joymalya Bagchi added that the book lacked “constitutional integrity” and appeared to ignore the Basic Structure Doctrine by selectively targeting the judiciary while remaining silent on corruption in the executive or legislature.
Current Status & Next Steps
- Textbook Pulled: The NCERT has removed the digital version of the book from its website and halted physical sales at its New Delhi headquarters.
- Internal Review: An emergency meeting has been called by the NCERT to review the subject experts and coordinators who approved the chapter.
- Government Stance: Sources indicate the Union Law Ministry was not consulted for fact-verification. The government is reportedly considering removing the specific “objectionable” portions entirely before re-releasing the book.