Supreme Court imposed complete ban on the offending textbook.NCERT Textbook Case Supreme Court Hearing Highlights: The Supreme Court on Wednesday took serious exception to ‘anti-social elements’ who reacted irresponsibly on social media after court’s previous order in the suo motu case relating to publishing of Class 8 NCERT textbook with corruption in judiciary section which was first reported by The Indian Express. The court ordered the central government to identify sites, persons behind running those sites and furnish their details for taking action against them.
“After the order dated 26th February, 2026 was passed some elements in the social media have active and reacted, irresponsibly. We firmly believe in catching the bull by horns. We accordingly direct government of India, to identify such sites, the person behind running those sites and furnish their full details to enable us to take suitable action. The law must take its own course”, CJI said.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi also questioned the reply filed by the NCERT director who submitted that the offending NCERT Class 8 textbook has been rewritten.
“This court has not been apprised either through affidavit or otherwise as to who are the alleged subject experts/domain experts who have rewritten the chapter again and who has approved it for incorporation in the curriculum of academic session 2026-27,” the court said.
The court further said the rewritten chapter shall not be published unless it is approved by a committee comprising domain experts. The court directed the central government to constitute a committee of domain experts, preferably including, a former senior judge, an eminent academician and one renowned practitioner.
The court has directed the centre/state governments/UTs/all universities, institutions receiving public funds to disassociate the three members involved in drafting the chapter in question. The three members include, professor Michel Danino, Ms. Suparna Diwakar and Mr. Alok Prasanna Kumar.
The bench however clarified that the order however shall be subject to their approaching the court for modification along with an explanation.
Textbook Ban: In the previous hearing on February 26, the top court imposed a complete ban on further publication, printing or digital dissemination of the offending book and said that it would like to have a deeper probe into the matter. The court had issued show cause notices to the Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy and NCERT Director, to show cause as to why contempt action should not be initiated against them.
What court said in its Feb 26 order? The court on Feb 26 highlighted that there was a calculated move to undermine the institutional authority and demean the dignity of the judiciary. It added that if allowed to go unchecked, this will erode the sanctity of judicial office in the estimation of public at large and within the minds of youth. The court noted that the choice of words in the book may not be a simpliciter inadvertent bonafide error. In its order the Supreme Court said that it does not propose to initiate the suo motu proceedings to stifle any legitimate critics or bring to task any individual/organisation exercising their right to scrutinise public institutions including the judiciary. It added that dissent, deliberation and rigorous discourse constitute the very vitality of a living democracy and serves as essential instruments of institutional accountability. The court lamented that the content in the textbook fails to acknowledge the imperative role of judiciary which it undertakes in upholding the constitutional morality and the basic structure doctrine.
What was the Indian Express Report? On February 25 the Indian Express had reported that the new Social Science textbook for Class 8, released by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), includes a section on “corruption in the judiciary” as part of a chapter on “The role of the judiciary in our society”. The chapter lists “corruption at various levels of the judiciary” and “massive backlog…on account of multiple reasons, such as a lack of an adequate number of judges, complicated legal procedures, and poor infrastructure” as among the “challenges” faced by the judicial system.
Suo motu cognizance: On February 25 the Supreme Court registered a suo motu case after coming across the said report. When senior advocates A M Singhvi and Kapil Sibal raised the issue before the bench, the CJI said he “will not allow anyone on earth to play with the integrity and to defame the institution”. NCERT pulled the book out of sale.
In its previous order on February 26, the top court imposed a complete ban on further publication, printing or digital dissemination of the offending book and said that it would like to have a deeper probe into the matter. The court had issued show cause notices to the Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy and NCERT Director, to show cause as to why contempt action should not be initiated against them.
The court today also came down heavily upon ‘anti-social elements’ who reacted 'irresponsibly' on social media after court’s previous order on Feb 26.
“After the order dated 26th February, 2026 was passed some elements in the social media have active and reacted, irresponsibly. We firmly believe in catching the bull by horns. We accordingly direct government of India, to identify such sites, the person behind running those sites and furnish their full details to enable us to take suitable action. The law must take its own course”, CJI said.
The court said that the rewritten chapter shall not be published unless it is approved by a committee comprising domain experts. The court directed the central government to constitute a committee of domain experts, preferably including, a former senior judge, an eminent academician and one renowned practitioner.
The Supreme Court today directed the centre/state governments/UTs/all universities, institutions receiving public funds to disassociate the three members involved in drafting the offending chapter in question. The three members include, professor Michel Danino, Ms. Suparna Diwakar and Mr. Alok Prasanna Kumar.
Hearing concludes
CJI: After the order dated 26th February, 2026, was passed some elements in the so-called social media have acted and reacted, irresponsibly. We know, we believe, we firmly believe in catching bull by horns. So we direct government of India, to identify such sites, the person behind running those sites and furnish their full details to enable us to take suitable action, the law must take its own course
CJI: We direct govt of India to frame a committee of domain experts
CJI: We direct that if at all chapter 4 has been re-written, the same shall not be published, unless approved by committee comprising domain experts.
CJI: We direct union, all states, all institutions receiving state funds, to disassociate them from rendering any service which would mean payment to them from public funds. This is subject to them approaching this court for seeking modification after tendering their response.
CJI: At the outset we have no reason to doubt that professor Michel Danino along with Ms Diwakar and Mr Alok Prasanna Kumar either do not have informed knowledge with respect to the Indian Judiciary....in order to project a negative image in the minds of students of eight class. We see no reason as to why this kind of persons be associated in any manner for preparation of curriculum or finalisation of textbooks for the next generation.
CJI: Neither the affidavit nor otherwise has apprised the court as to who are the alleged subject experts who has re written the chapter again and who has approved it's inclusion
CJI: It is stated that all necessary and urgent steps have been taken for the withdrawal of the offending content. However para 15 of affidavit (reply) is disturbing. It is stated that in terms of directions issued by us, chapter IV of the book has been duly rewritten. It is further stated that the revised chapter shall be incorporated in the forthcoming academic session and shall be implemented across schools in terms with applicable school curriculum framework. It is stated that the revised chapter shall be corporated in the forthcoming academic session and shall be used in classroom transaction across all state and UTs
CJI: On February 26 this court after reading an article in Indian express dated February 24 regarding the social science text book for Grade 8 published by the NCERT took suo motu cognizance of repeated offending contents of the said chapter and consequently issued some interim directions which were ex facie meant for maligning the Indian judiciary. This court issued some interim directions.
In purported compliance thereof (previous order of the order) Director NCERT has filed an affidavit tendering unconditional apology on his own behalf and NCERT.....
Bench begins to dictate order
SG Mehta: Nothing will go into the book unless vetted by the committee of domain experts.
Justice Bagchi: Director NCERT says after it was flagged, he says it is duly re-written. We don’t who has re-written, the contents of the re-written chapter.
The director of NCERT has come up with such lacunic statement?
SG Mehta: Unless committee has review, it won’t go into textbooks
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal: There are problems not only with the chapter. But across the book. So the committee should look at all aspects.
CJI: Anti social elements have reacted; I am no going to leave any person. They must realise how to to deal with current Chief Justice of India
CJI: Affidavit is eye opening that curriculum is approved without any level
CJI: Instead of leaving it to NCERT we would appreciate if Centre constitutes some high level committee
SG Mehta: We have filed affidavit giving unconditional apology, already directed NCERT to review textbooks of all standards
SG Tushar Mehta seeks pardon for not being able to appear physically in court. He is appearing through VC.
Hearing commences
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi will hear the matter shortly.
The Indian Express first reported on February 24 that the book, released on February 23, contained a section on “corruption in the judiciary”, while the old political science book for Class 8 did not mention it. NCERT pulled the book out of sale on February 24.
Yesterday, NCERT tendered an “unconditional and unqualified apology” for the chapter on the judiciary.
The top court vide its order dated February 26 directed the NCERT director to submit a comprehensive list of members of the National Syllabi and Teaching Learning Materials committee who approved the offending chapter.
The court had earlier ordered that it would be the personal responsibility of NCERT Director and principals of all school where the book has been circulated or reached to effectuate the immediate seizure within their premises.
On February 25 the CJI took serious exception to the content of a report by The Indian Express that pointed out that the new Social Science textbook for Class 8 by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) includes a section on “corruption in the judiciary”. The CJI said that he “will not allow anyone on earth to play with the integrity and to defame the institution”.
The Supreme Court on February 26 imposed a blanket ban on the offending textbook and said that any attempt to circumvent the order shall be treated as a direct interference and defiance of the directions.
"Complete blanket ban on any further publication, reprinting or digital dissemination of the book titled Exploring society- India and beyond’. Any attempt to circumvent this order through electronic media or alternative titles containing the same contents to be treated as a direct interference and defiance of the directions issued," the court ordered.
Taking a strong exception to the ‘offending textbook’, the Supreme Court had earlier remarked that it was a calculated move to undermine the institutional authority and demean the dignity of the judiciary.
Yesterday, NCERT tendered an “unconditional and unqualified apology” for the chapter on the judiciary.
“The National Council of Educational Research and Training [NCERT] has recently published a social science textbook, “Exploring Society: India and Beyond,” Grade 8 (Part II), which contained Chapter IV titled “The Role of Judiciary in our Society.” The Director and Members of NCERT hereby tender an unconditional and unqualified apology for the said Chapter IV. The entire book has been withdrawn and is not available,” the Council said.
The Supreme Court today will hear the suo motu case relating to publishing of Class 8 NCERT textbook with corruption in judiciary section. Earlier, the court had issued show cause notices to the Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy and NCERT Director for contempt action.
