Representative image NEW DELHI: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on Thursday moved to retrieve 38 copies of the now-withdrawn Class 8 Social Science textbook after drawing sharp criticism from the Supreme Court. A bench led by CJI Surya Kant described the content as a “deep-rooted conspiracy to defame” the judiciary.The textbook sparked a judicial backlash after the newly introduced edition outlined key challenges facing the country’s judicial system, including corruption, a heavy backlog of cases, and an inadequate number of judges.However, following strong remarks from the CJI-led bench, NCERT on Wednesday decided to remove references to “corruption at various levels of the judiciary” from the textbook and revised the chapter titled ‘The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society.’In a late-night development, the board announced that it has put the distribution of the newly released textbook on hold after noticing “inappropriate textual material and error of judgement” in the chapter on the judiciary. It said the issue was flagged both internally and by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the education ministry.The CJI said, “Judges of the constitutional and district courts are perturbed by this. I have taken suo motu cognisance of the issue. I will not allow anyone on earth to defame the institution or taint its integrity. Whosoever and however high it may be, I know how to deal with it,” while addressing senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Mukul Rohatgi, who raised the matter at the start of proceedings at 10.30 am.The advocates informed the bench of CJI Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi that teaching students of an impressionable age about corruption in the judiciary could bring disrepute to the institution, and urged the apex court to take cognisance of the matter. The suo motu case has been listed for hearing on Thursday.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosRed Carpet Welcome For PM Modi In Israel, Congress Slams Visit Over Gaza ‘Genocide’ | Headlines@8Big Honour for India: PM Modi Becomes First to Receive Knesset Speaker’s Medal”Zero Tolerance For Terrorist Acts…”Jaishankar Sends Strong Message Against Terror at UNHRC’We Feel Your Pain’: PM Modi Shares ‘Pain Of Terror’ With Israel, Slams Hamas And October 7 Attack‘More Than A Friend, A Brother’: Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu Hails PM Modi During Knesset AddressPM Modi’s Visit to Israel End IAF’s Need For Tanker Aircrafts | Watch“Pride and Emotion”: Indian Diaspora Welcomes PM Modi to IsraelRed Carpet Optics In Tel Aviv: Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu Offers Grand Welcome To PM ModiPM Modi’s Israel Menu Revealed: From Gujarati Dishes to Local DelightsLondon-Based Indian Eatery Shuts Down After Owner Blames Pakistani Threats And Diaspora Tensions123Photostories6 countries that don’t really have “names” — just official descriptions8 unique shade-tolerant plants for a lush balcony gardenHow to buy vintage designer bags online without getting scammedLesser-known tale of Goddess Kamakhya Devi temple7 modern Indian films that broke barriers and won international praiseMayank Pawar to Danish Zehen: Reality show contestants whose deaths shocked fansPCOS-related inflammation: 7 yoga poses that may support hormonal balance and metabolic healthKatie Leung,Regé-Jean Page to Freddie Stroma: Every ‘Harry Potter’ actor who starred in ‘Bridgerton’How to make Dhaba-style Panchmel Dal for dinner at home5 iconic real estate streets of Delhi; where all the elite lives123Hot PicksMumbai BMC BudgetTrump’s State of the UnionGold rate todayBihar wedding shootIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays February 2026Bank Holidays februaryTop TrendingThe RockTyler LucasBrittany MahomesJosh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld Net WorthWinter OlympicsMegyn KellyPatrik LaineNFL Combine 2026Mel Owens DivorceNFL Trade News
NEW DELHI: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on Thursday moved to retrieve 38 copies of the now-withdrawn Class 8 Social Science textbook after drawing sharp criticism from the Supreme Court. A bench led by CJI Surya Kant described the content as a “deep-rooted conspiracy to defame” the judiciary.The textbook sparked a judicial backlash after the newly introduced edition outlined key challenges facing the country’s judicial system, including corruption, a heavy backlog of cases, and an inadequate number of judges.However, following strong remarks from the CJI-led bench, NCERT on Wednesday decided to remove references to “corruption at various levels of the judiciary” from the textbook and revised the chapter titled ‘The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society.’In a late-night development, the board announced that it has put the distribution of the newly released textbook on hold after noticing “inappropriate textual material and error of judgement” in the chapter on the judiciary. It said the issue was flagged both internally and by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the education ministry.The CJI said, “Judges of the constitutional and district courts are perturbed by this. I have taken suo motu cognisance of the issue. I will not allow anyone on earth to defame the institution or taint its integrity. Whosoever and however high it may be, I know how to deal with it,” while addressing senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Mukul Rohatgi, who raised the matter at the start of proceedings at 10.30 am.The advocates informed the bench of CJI Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi that teaching students of an impressionable age about corruption in the judiciary could bring disrepute to the institution, and urged the apex court to take cognisance of the matter. The suo motu case has been listed for hearing on Thursday.
