NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday imposed a life ban on three academics, holding them responsible for “projecting a negative image of judiciary” by mentioning “corruption in judiciary” in the class 8 NCERT textbook. The court also said it would take stringent action against social media “mischief mongers” who endorsed the objectionable content to malign the judiciary.After banning the three academics from any assignment with the govt or govt-aided institutions or projects, a bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi ordered that the Union govt identify the “social media mischief mongers”. ‘Heads Must Roll’: Centre Says Sorry Over NCERT Chapter, Supreme Court Demands Accountability NCERT director Dinesh Prasad Saklani and school education secretary Sanjay Kumar tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology to the SC for the “major and unpardonable lapse” and promised preventive steps against such lapses in future. Israel Iran WarMiddle Easat crisis: MEA condemns attack on India-bound Thai ship; remarks innocent lives lost in conflict ‘unacceptable”Legitimate targets’: Iran issues warning to US tech firms including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, NvidiaNCERT said the controversial chapter was drafted by Textbook Development Team (TDT) under the chairmanship of Prof Michel Danino and comprised Suparna Diwakar and Alok Prasanna Kumar. These three will not be associated with any activity of NCERT in future, it said. These three “either had no reasonable knowledge about the judiciary or deliberately and knowingly misrepresented facts to project a negative image of Indian judiciary before students of class eight (who are) at an impressionable age”, said the bench.Academics can seek modification of order by approaching us with an explanation: SCThe Supreme Court has directed all govts and institutions receiving govt funds to immediately cut ties with the three academicians, whom the court held responsible for “projecting a negative image of the judiciary”, but allowed them the option to seek a modification of the order.“We see no reason as to why these kinds of persons should be associated in any manner for the purpose of framing of curriculum or finalisation of textbook for the children,” it further said while directing Centre, states and Union territories, universities and public institutions receiving govt funds “to forthwith disassociate with these three persons and not assign any responsibility which involves public funds either fully or partially”.Leaving a window open for the three to seek modification of the order, the bench said the three can do so by approaching SC with an explanation for drafting the chapter “The Role of Judiciary in Our Society”, which contained the controversial reference to “corruption” in the institution.The bench took strong exception to certain social media platforms, websites and individuals defending the reference to alleged corruption in judiciary in the NCERT textbook. It said, “After the Feb 26 order (which banned the circulation of the entire textbook) was passed, some elements of the so-called social media have acted and reacted irresponsibly. We firmly believe in catching the bull by its horns. We direct the Union govt to identify such sites, the persons running those sites and furnish their full details to enable us to take suitable action. The law must take its own course against mischief mongers.”Solicitor general Tushar Mehta said Newton’s law “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction” has been redefined by social media which believes that for “every action, there is a disproportionate and idiotic overreaction”. The bench clarified that its Feb 26 and today’s orders “are not intended to prevent objective and legitimate criticism of the institutional functioning of the judiciary. The judiciary, like any other institution, suffers from deficiencies and if an expert committee highlights such deficiencies, it will be a welcome step for the future generation of this nation, including the future judges and practitioners, and offer an avenue for present stakeholders to take correctional steps”.But SC disapproved of NCERT’s stand that the controversial chapter on judiciary has been “duly rewritten” after the controversy for incorporation in the textbook. The bench said that NCERT through “one after the other hasty acts” is making the issue more complex and impeding transparent and dispassionate information on judiciary from being disseminated to students.Mehta assured the court that “nothing of the earlier chapter four on judiciary” would be incorporated in the new textbook. The bench said the National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee does not even include a jurist or a person from legal field and expressed surprise that the draft of the controversial chapter was not approved by NSTC prior to its inclusion in the textbook.It said the revised version of the controversial chapter would not be incorporated in the textbook unless approved by a committee of domain experts, which must include a former judge, eminent academician and a renowned law practitioner. “It shall be appreciated if a committee of domain experts to be constituted by the Union govt within one week also associates National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, for finalising the legal studies curriculum proposed by NCERT for not only class 8 but the higher classes,” said the bench.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNo LPG Shortage: Govt Unveils Plan To Prioritise Homes, Hospitals, SchoolsPreparing Against Joint China & Pakistan Threat, India Buys More Weapons Than Any Nation : Report‘Parliament Is Not A Party Office’: TMC’s Sayani Ghosh Targets Modi Govt During Speaker Trust MotionLok Sabha Drama Ends With Voice Vote Defeating Opposition Move Against Speaker Om BirlaFirst Group Of Indian Students In Iran To Head Towards Armenia Border Amid Security Concerns‘FOMO Gandhi’: BJP MP Anurag Thakur’s Viral Dig At Rahul Gandhi, Calls Him ‘Leader Of Propaganda”Speaker Above Party Lines’: Amit Shah Attacks Congress Over Rare Lok Sabha No Confidence MotionLearning from Iran, Indian Army Conducts Live Firing Drill Against Drone Swarms At PokhranPM Modi Assures Safety Of Indians Amid West Asia War, Slams Cong-Left For ‘Creating Panic’Historic Ruling: After 13 Years In Coma, Supreme Court Allows Passive Euthanasia For Harish Rana123Photostories7 poor habits that drain your brain and hurt productivity – And how to fix them, explains CMC Vellore doctorProtein powders and high-protein diets: Kidney experts explain the hidden risks and the balanced way to build muscle without straining your kidneysDevoleena Bhattacharjee gets emotional recalling caring for her mother during schizophrenia attacks from the age of 11; says brother’s death led to a phase of depressionA red Chanderi saree, royal bandhgala and Mumbai sunset: Pictures from Kritika Kamra-Gaurav Kapur’s intimate Bandra home weddingMahesh Babu-Namrata Shirodkar: Love story born on ‘Vamsi’ sets, sealed in private vowsHardik Pandya to Abhishek Sharma: Indian players flash diamond studs and chains during T20 World Cup 2026 triumph5 key features that make cruiser bikes comfortable for highway ridingHow to make South Indian Curd Rice for dinner to keep the stomach coolThe ‘3-hour dinner rule’: Doctors say this simple change could improve heart health and longevityIs collecting airline miles still worth it? 5 things travellers should know123Hot PicksStrait of Hormuz naval minesChina Yj-12 missileUCC gender biasCovid vaccine compensation policyIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingIran War Impact on IndiaIPL Teams Match ScheduleGold Price PredictionMumbai TemperatureSouth Asia Country Diesel and Petrol PriceUS Iran War ImpactUAE F-16Brain dead womenBombay high courtMiddle East War
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday imposed a life ban on three academics, holding them responsible for “projecting a negative image of judiciary” by mentioning “corruption in judiciary” in the class 8 NCERT textbook. The court also said it would take stringent action against social media “mischief mongers” who endorsed the objectionable content to malign the judiciary.After banning the three academics from any assignment with the govt or govt-aided institutions or projects, a bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi ordered that the Union govt identify the “social media mischief mongers”.
NCERT director Dinesh Prasad Saklani and school education secretary Sanjay Kumar tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology to the SC for the “major and unpardonable lapse” and promised preventive steps against such lapses in future. NCERT said the controversial chapter was drafted by Textbook Development Team (TDT) under the chairmanship of Prof Michel Danino and comprised Suparna Diwakar and Alok Prasanna Kumar. These three will not be associated with any activity of NCERT in future, it said. These three “either had no reasonable knowledge about the judiciary or deliberately and knowingly misrepresented facts to project a negative image of Indian judiciary before students of class eight (who are) at an impressionable age”, said the bench.
Academics can seek modification of order by approaching us with an explanation: SC
The Supreme Court has directed all govts and institutions receiving govt funds to immediately cut ties with the three academicians, whom the court held responsible for “projecting a negative image of the judiciary”, but allowed them the option to seek a modification of the order.“We see no reason as to why these kinds of persons should be associated in any manner for the purpose of framing of curriculum or finalisation of textbook for the children,” it further said while directing Centre, states and Union territories, universities and public institutions receiving govt funds “to forthwith disassociate with these three persons and not assign any responsibility which involves public funds either fully or partially”.Leaving a window open for the three to seek modification of the order, the bench said the three can do so by approaching SC with an explanation for drafting the chapter “The Role of Judiciary in Our Society”, which contained the controversial reference to “corruption” in the institution.The bench took strong exception to certain social media platforms, websites and individuals defending the reference to alleged corruption in judiciary in the NCERT textbook. It said, “After the Feb 26 order (which banned the circulation of the entire textbook) was passed, some elements of the so-called social media have acted and reacted irresponsibly. We firmly believe in catching the bull by its horns. We direct the Union govt to identify such sites, the persons running those sites and furnish their full details to enable us to take suitable action. The law must take its own course against mischief mongers.”Solicitor general Tushar Mehta said Newton’s law “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction” has been redefined by social media which believes that for “every action, there is a disproportionate and idiotic overreaction”. The bench clarified that its Feb 26 and today’s orders “are not intended to prevent objective and legitimate criticism of the institutional functioning of the judiciary. The judiciary, like any other institution, suffers from deficiencies and if an expert committee highlights such deficiencies, it will be a welcome step for the future generation of this nation, including the future judges and practitioners, and offer an avenue for present stakeholders to take correctional steps”.But SC disapproved of NCERT’s stand that the controversial chapter on judiciary has been “duly rewritten” after the controversy for incorporation in the textbook. The bench said that NCERT through “one after the other hasty acts” is making the issue more complex and impeding transparent and dispassionate information on judiciary from being disseminated to students.Mehta assured the court that “nothing of the earlier chapter four on judiciary” would be incorporated in the new textbook. The bench said the National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee does not even include a jurist or a person from legal field and expressed surprise that the draft of the controversial chapter was not approved by NSTC prior to its inclusion in the textbook.It said the revised version of the controversial chapter would not be incorporated in the textbook unless approved by a committee of domain experts, which must include a former judge, eminent academician and a renowned law practitioner. “It shall be appreciated if a committee of domain experts to be constituted by the Union govt within one week also associates National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, for finalising the legal studies curriculum proposed by NCERT for not only class 8 but the higher classes,” said the bench.
