BREAKING: Supreme Court Recalls Direction To Centre, States On Disassociating From NCERT Textbook Authors

The Supreme Court today recalled its order from March this year directing the Government of India and all state governments to disassociate from the three authors of the NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook containing a chapter on “corruption in judiciary” and not to assign any responsibility to them which involves public funds.

In its order, the bench has further noted that it had no reason to doubt that the three authors, Prof. Micheal Danino and his associates Ms. Suparna Diwakar and Mr Alok Prasanna either did not have informed knowledge on Indian judiciary or they deliberately misrepresented the facts in order to project image of Indian judiciary before students of 8th class who are of impressionable age.

A CJI Surya Kant led bench was told by Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Micheal Danino, that the order was passed ex-parte and there were other members on the drafting committee as well.

This prompted the CJI to order, "While we reiterate, in no uncertain terms, that the curriculum contained in the Class 8 NCERT textbook was wholly undesirable and unnecessary, remedial steps regarding the insertion of new content relating to the Indian judiciary have already been initiated by the Government of India through the constitution of an expert committee headed by a former judge of this Court. However, in view of the explanation furnished by the applicants, namely the authors, we deem it appropriate to modify paragraph 8 of the order and recall the direction issued to the Government of India, the State Governments, Union Territories, universities, and educational institutions to disassociate themselves from the applicants in academic activities."

In this regard, the bench has now left it open to the Union of India, the State Governments, and other competent authorities to take an independent decision without being influenced by the observations made by the supreme court. It is further clarified that the opening line of paragraph 8 of the order, to the effect that the three applicants had deliberately or knowingly misrepresented facts, is also recalled in light of the explanation tendered by them.

In April this year, the three authors, who the Supreme Court had asked to be disassociated by the Centre had requested to an opportunity to be heard.

Senior Advocate Gopal Sankarnarayanan, appearing for Alok Prasanna Kumar had told the bench, "We want to show what process was followed..they are not fly by night authors. They are respected". Senior Advocate J Sai Deepak had appeared for Suparna Diwakar. He had told court that the decision of designing the syllabus was a collective process and no individual had a sole say in it.

Supreme Court today took up the contempt proceedings initiated by it in connection with an NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook containing a chapter on “corruption in judiciary”. Taking suo motu cognisance of the contents, the Court had issued show cause notices to senior education officials and ordered an immediate nationwide withdrawal of the book from all physical and digital platforms.

Earlier this year, the bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justice J. Bagchi and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi, had directed immediate withdrawal of all physical and digital copies of the book Exploring Society: India and Beyond, First Edition (Part II).

Court had also issued show cause notices to the Secretary, Department of School Education, and to Dr. Dinesh Prasad, asking why action under the Contempt of Courts Act or any other applicable law should not be initiated against them or those responsible for the “offending chapters”. Expressing strong disapproval in open court, the CJI observed that the framers of the Constitution crafted its provisions with precision to ensure that the three pillars of democracy function with autonomy within the democratic fabric. While acknowledging the constitutionally prescribed demarcation of powers, the Bench said it was “in shock” upon seeing reports about the textbook’s contents.

It noted that the chapter incorporates a sub-topic explicitly expounding “corruption in judiciary” and held that inclusion of such subject matter in a foundational academic text warrants rigorous examination in view of the institutional standing of the judiciary. The Bench said it was reluctant to reproduce the contents but observed that the text refers to hundreds of complaints against the judiciary in a manner suggesting no action was taken and selectively extracts portions of a former CJI’s statement, creating an impression that the judiciary itself has acknowledged institutional corruption.

The Court directed NCERT, in coordination with Union and State education authorities, to ensure immediate removal of all copies from retail outlets, schools and digital platforms. The Director, NCERT, has been made responsible for seizure of distributed copies and filing a compliance report. Principal Secretaries of Education Departments across States have been directed to file compliance reports within two weeks. Court also imposed a complete ban on further production and circulation of the book, warning that any attempt to distribute it would amount to wilful breach of its order. It also directed the NCERT Director to furnish the names and credentials of members of the National Syllabi Board involved in drafting the chapter and to produce original minutes of the meetings in which it was deliberated and finalised.

Notably, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on February 25, 2026, issued a press release stating that certain “inappropriate textual material” had inadvertently appeared in Chapter 4, titled The Role of Judiciary in our Society, in the newly released Class 8 Social Science textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Vol II. Acting on observations made by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education, NCERT said distribution of the book has been put on hold until further orders. The council described the inclusion as an unintentional error of judgment, expressed regret, and said the chapter would be rewritten in consultation with the appropriate authority before being made available to students in the 2026–27 academic session. NCERT reiterated that it holds the judiciary in the highest esteem and maintained that there was no intent to question or diminish the authority of any constitutional body.

Case Title: In Re: Social Science Textbook for Grade 8 Part2 Published by NCERT and Ancillary Issues

Bench: CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi

Hearing Date: May 22, 2026