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CJI Surya Kant Says Judiciary’s Reputation Must Be Protected
NCERT Textbook Mentions Judicial Accountability and Pending Cases
The controversy centres on a chapter titled “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society” in the Class 8 Social Science textbook published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), released on February 23.
The chapter includes a section discussing judicial accountability, corruption safeguards, and grievance mechanisms. It states that judges are bound by strict codes of conduct governing both professional and personal behaviour.
The textbook also highlights accountability systems such as the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), noting that over 1,600 complaints were received between 2017 and 2021.
Additionally, it provides data on case pendency, citing approximately 81,000 pending cases in the Supreme Court, 62.4 lakh in High Courts, and over 4.7 crore cases in district and subordinate courts. The book notes that delays in case resolution remain a significant challenge, with many cases pending for years or even decades.
Legal Community Expresses Concern Over Textbook Content
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi also expressed concern, questioning why the judiciary was being singled out when corruption exists in multiple sectors.
Kapil Sibal said the legal fraternity was deeply disturbed by the inclusion of references suggesting judicial corruption in school-level textbooks, arguing that such content could undermine public trust in the institution among young students.
The textbook also quotes former Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai, who emphasised that transparency, accountability, and decisive action are essential to rebuilding public trust in the judiciary.
With the Supreme Court now taking suo motu cognisance, the issue is expected to trigger wider debate over academic content, institutional reputation, and the balance between transparency and public perception in educational material.
