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Supreme Court Takes Cognisance, Govt Signals Strong Disapproval

The development comes after a three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court of India, comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, took suo motu cognisance of what were described as “objectionable” statements in the textbook.

Chief Justice Surya Kant strongly objected to the content, asserting that the judiciary’s integrity must be protected. “Nobody on earth will be allowed to defame the judiciary and taint its integrity,” he said, reflecting the court’s serious concern over the issue.

Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi had earlier raised the matter before the court, prompting urgent judicial scrutiny.

NCERT Calls Internal Review Meeting, Govt Questions Editorial Judgment

Sources said NCERT has convened an internal meeting to review the chapter and examine the role of subject experts and officials who approved the content.

Government officials expressed concern that while NCERT is an autonomous body, those responsible for drafting and approving the textbook should have exercised greater caution. They noted that if corruption were to be discussed, it should have addressed all three pillars of democracy — the executive, legislature, and judiciary — rather than focusing solely on the judiciary.

Officials also said the Union Law Ministry had not been consulted for verification of the data and references used in the textbook.

The textbook included statistics on judicial pendency, citing approximately 81,000 pending cases in the Supreme Court, 62.4 lakh in High Courts, and 4.7 crore in district and subordinate courts. It also mentioned that over 1,600 complaints against judges were received through the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System between 2017 and 2021.

Former CJI’s Quote Sparks Further Concern, Govt Calls for Balanced Approach

The controversy deepened after the textbook quoted former Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai on judicial accountability and corruption, with sources indicating that the quote may have been taken out of context.

Government officials emphasised that while transparency and accountability are essential, the judiciary has established in-house mechanisms to address misconduct, ensuring institutional integrity.

According to Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, a total of 8,639 complaints were received against sitting judges between 2016 and 2025, with 1,170 complaints recorded in 2024 alone.

With the Supreme Court now seized of the matter and NCERT initiating an internal review, the controversial chapter is likely to be revised or removed, highlighting the sensitivity of institutional integrity and the role of educational content in shaping public perception.