Centre Establishes Expert Committee to Review Class 8 NCERT Textbook
The Union government has informed the Supreme Court that a specialised committee has been constituted to examine a chapter in the Class 8 NCERT textbook concerning corruption within the judiciary. The panel includes former Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, retired Supreme Court judges Justice Indu Malhotra and Justice Aniruddha Bose, along with a university vice-chancellor and other experts.
Committee Composition and Mandate
During proceedings before a bench led by the Chief Justice, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta outlined the committee’s formation. The group brings together distinguished legal minds, including senior advocate and former Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, former Supreme Court judge Justice Indu Malhotra, and Justice Aniruddha Bose, who currently serves as director of the National Judicial Academy. The committee has been tasked with reviewing the contentious chapter and preparing a revised draft.
Background of the Controversy
The matter came to light over a passage in an older edition of the Class 8 textbook that referenced judicial observations concerning slum dwellers. The passage had drawn criticism from various quarters, prompting the government to take corrective action.
Supreme Court’s Stance on Criticism
When the petition was brought before the court, the bench declined to entertain it, emphasising that the judiciary should not be overly sensitive to legitimate criticism. The court observed that holding a different viewpoint on a judicial decision is an inherent part of democratic functioning, and citizens have every right to critique judicial outcomes.
The Chief Justice remarked that the textbook chapter also covers the structure, functioning, and achievements of the judiciary, alongside references to certain rulings perceived as contrary to public interest. Such content should be treated as one perspective rather than objectionable material, the court noted.
Balanced Approach to Educational Content
With this ruling, it has become evident that critical viewpoints need not be entirely excised from educational materials. Instead, the emphasis will be on presenting information in a balanced, factual manner that encourages students to develop their own informed opinions.
The committee’s formation signals the government’s commitment to ensuring that educational content meets academic standards while remaining sensitive to diverse perspectives. The revised chapter is expected to provide a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the judiciary’s role in Indian democracy.
This development underscores the importance of maintaining constructive dialogue between institutions and acknowledges that healthy debate strengthens democratic institutions. The committee’s work will likely set a precedent for how similar educational content is reviewed and updated in the future.
