Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 01 September 2026

Case Overview

  • The petition (Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) No.1/2026) arose from a 24‑02‑2026 report in The Indian Express highlighting Chapter 4 of NCERT’s Grade‑8 Social Science textbook (First Edition, "Exploring Society: India and Beyond") titled “The Role of the Judiciary” which contained a sub‑topic “Corruption in the Judiciary”.
  • The Court deemed the chapter’s portrayal as an attempt to undermine the institutional authority and dignity of the Judiciary, noting the absence of references to constitutional roles and reforms of the Supreme Court, High Courts and District Courts.
  • On 26‑02‑2026 the Court issued notices to the Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, and to Professor (Dr.) Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director, NCERT, directing seizure, withdrawal of all copies, and a ban on further publication or digital dissemination.
  • The Court clarified that the intervention was not to stifle legitimate criticism but to protect pedagogical integrity for impressionable students.
  • In compliance, Director Saklani filed an unconditional apology on behalf of NCERT; the Government, through Secretary Sanjay Kumar (IAS), also apologized and reported the recall of 82,440 copies already in circulation.
  • The Ministry of Education, Department of School Education and Literacy, on 16‑03‑2026 constituted a three‑member expert Committee comprising Hon’ble Ms. Justice Indu Malhotra (Retired), Shri K.K. Venugopal (Senior Advocate, former Attorney General), and Prof. Prakash Singh (Vice‑Chancellor, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University) to collaborate with the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, for finalising curricula on legal studies.
  • Concurrently, on 02‑04‑2026 the National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee (NSTC) was reconstituted as a twenty‑member High‑Powered Committee chaired by Shri M.C. Pant (former Chancellor, NIEPA) with Prof. Manjul Bhargava (Princeton University) as Co‑Chair.
  • The expert Committee reviewed Chapter 4 and other objectionable content, prepared a revised, balanced chapter, and submitted its report to the Court.
  • The Court examined the revised chapter, finding it objective, factually accurate, and balanced, presenting the Judiciary’s constitutional role and safeguards without glorification or disparagement.

Final Outcome

  • The Court held that the objectives of the suo moto proceedings were substantially achieved and ordered the discharge of the show‑cause notices issued on 26‑02‑2026 to the Secretary and the Director.
  • The revised chapter has been approved, circulated to students, and is presently in classroom use.
  • The Union of India, NCERT, and the concerned authorities remain bound by assurances to vet educational material relating to public institutions, including the Judiciary, in future editions.
  • The Court commended the diligent work of the expert Committee, the reconstituted NSTC, and the collaborative response of the Government and NCERT.
  • The petition was disposed of and closed; any pending applications stand disposed of.

Topics: Judiciary‑Education Interaction, Textbook Recall, Curriculum Review