NCERT asks public to return Class 8 textbook, delete posts
POLITY – JUDICIARY
28 FEBRUARY 2026
- A day after the Supreme Court banned NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook over a section on “corruption” in the judiciary, the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) asked people to return the book and take down related social media posts.
- The Supreme Court registered a suo motu case in relation to the section that had appeared in a chapter titled “Role of Judiciary in Our Society”.
- Chief Justice Surya Kant called the section on “corruption” in the judiciary a “selective reference”, while calling for a suo motu case to be registered.
- It was argued that the “selectivity is amazing” before adding that “one institution is plucked out as if there is no problem anywhere else”. “Not a word about other sectors, public life, economy, bureaucracy, politicians, ministers.”
- It quotes former CJI B R Gavai as having said in July 2025: “…Sadly, there have been instances of corruption and misconduct that have surfaced even within the judiciary. Such occurrences inevitably have a negative impact on public confidence, potentially eroding faith in the integrity of the system as a whole….”
- While hearing the case, the Supreme Court directed that copies of the book that had already been distributed or sold be seized, further asking officials concerned to file a compliance report regarding this seizure.
- Sources added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also taken notice of the section in question and called for accountability to be fixed.
