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‘Disturbed’: SC orders blacklisting of NCERT experts over ‘corruption in judiciary’ chapter; directs Centre, states, universities to dissociate immediately
The Supreme Court also asked NCERT to revisit the composition of the National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee, especially those to whom the offending chapter was shown.
The Council confirmed that new textbooks for classes 1 to 8 have already been developed and are available in both print and digital formats.
With NCERT placing responsibility for the chapter on “corruption in the judiciary” in its Class 8 textbook on the Textbook Development Team (TDT) headed by Professor Michel Danino, the Supreme Court Wednesday directed the Centre, states, Union Territories, and universities to immediately dissociate from them.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi also said it is “disturbed” by the National Council of Educational Research and Training, stating that the chapter in question “has been duly rewritten” and that “the revised chapter shall be incorporated in the forthcoming academic session 2026-2027 and shall be used for classroom transactions in schools across all states and Union Territories in accordance with the applicable curriculum and academic framework.”
The bench asked NCERT to revisit the composition of the National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee (NSTC), especially those to whom the offending chapter was circulated digitally by TDT, which included Suparna Diwakar and Alok Prasanna Kumar.
“We see no reason as to why these kinds of persons should be associated in any manner for the purpose of appraisal of curriculum or for finalisation of the textbooks for the next generation of children of this country,” the bench said.
“Consequently, we direct the Government of India and all state governments/ Union Territories, all Universities, public institutions receiving government funds to dissociate with them forthwith and not to assign any responsibility which incurs fully or partially public funds. This order, however, shall be subject to their approaching this court for modification along with an explanation, if any,” said the bench.
On revised NCERT Class 8 textbook chapters
The bench directed that the rewritten chapter should not be published unless approved by a committee of domain experts.
The bench also asked the Centre “to constitute a committee of domain experts which may preferably include one former senior judge, one prominent academician and one renowned practitioner.”
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The bench added that its directions in the matter “are not intended to prevent any…objective and legitimate criticism of the institutional functioning of the judiciary”.
The bench also expressed concern over social media comments on the matter and asked the Centre to identify the websites and individuals making such posts and provide the details to it so that action can be taken.
The Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the matter following a report in The Indian Express on February 24 and sought responses from NCERT and the Centre.
In response, NCERT Director Prakash Saklani filed an affidavit, saying the chapter “was drafted by the Textbook Development Team (TDT) under the chairmanship of Prof Michel Danino, consisting of….Suparna Diwakar and Alok Prasanna Kumar”.
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Saklani also said in the affidavit that they “shall not be associated with any activity of NCERT hereafter.”
The Council said the chapter was to be looked into by the members of NSTC, comprising 19 members, but this was “not placed before the NSTC except that it was circulated only amongst the few members digitally”.
Saklani said, “This is a major and unpardonable lapse, and it shall be ensured that the same is not repeated hereafter.”
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