New Delhi: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on Tuesday issued an unconditional public apology, two weeks after the Supreme Court imposed a ban on a social science textbook containing a controversial chapter on the judiciary.
The textbook, “Exploring Society: India and Beyond,” Grade 8 (Part II), included Chapter IV titled “The Role of Judiciary in our Society.” The entire book has been withdrawn and is no longer available, the NCERT said in a press release.
The director and members of NCERT expressed regret for the chapter and acknowledged the inconvenience caused. They said the council appreciates the understanding of all stakeholders and remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of accuracy, sensitivity, and responsibility in educational content.
The controversy arose after the chapter included a section on “corruption in the judiciary.” Media coverage of this prompted sharp remarks from Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who reportedly warned that the integrity of the judiciary must not be defamed and that the law would take its course against any wrongdoing.
NCERT officials confirmed that the distribution of the textbook has been halted. They admitted that certain “inappropriate” material and an “error of judgement” had inadvertently crept into the chapter.
