NCERT ‘Judiciary Corruption’ row: SC directs Centre, states to dissociate panel behind Class 8 chapter

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 11 March, directed the Central government and the states to dissociate NCERT social science curriculum chairperson Professor Michel Denino and two other associate members who were behind the ‘Corruption in the Judiciary’ chapter in the Class 8 Social Science textbook, ANI has reported.

The three have been dissociated from preparing the curriculum, finalising the textbook, or rendering any service to the NCERT, even for the next generation, if that would mean a payment to them from public funds.

The order was passed by a bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant.

The court noted that: “At the outset, we have no reason to doubt that Professor Michel Danino, along with Ms Diwakar and Mr Alok Prasanna Kumar, either does not have reasonable knowledge about Indian judiciary or they deliberately knowingly misrepresented the facts in order to project a negative image of Indian judiciary before students of Class 8 who are at an impressionable age.”

“There is no reason why such persons should be associated in any manner with the preparation of the curriculum or the finalisation of textbooks for the next generation. We direct the union, all states, all institutions receiving state funds, to disassociate them from rendering any service which would mean payment to them from public funds,” the court added.

The Centre has also been directed to constitute a panel of experts to finalise the curriculum linked to legal topics in NCERT textbooks.

While the Supreme Court bench noted that Chapter 4 had been rewritten, it asserted that it cannot be included in school studies without the panel's approval.

"We find it slightly disappointing that not a single eminent jurist is included in the committee," the Bench remarked, adding, “We direct that if at all Chapter 4 of the textbook has been rewritten, the same shall not be published unless it is approved by a committee of domain experts.”

“We hasten to reiterate paragraph 9 of our order dated February 26 to show that the interim directions issued are not intended to prevent any healthy, objective and legitimate criticism of the functioning of the judiciary. If the judiciary is suffering from any deficiencies like any other institution, it will be a welcome step not only for the future generation of the nation, but it will also open doors for the present generation to take necessary remedial steps,” the court noted.

The ‘Corruption in the Judiciary’ chapter case

The Supreme Court had on February 26 imposed a blanket ban on the publication, reprinting, or digital dissemination of the Class 8 social science book, which it said contained "offending" content on corruption in the judiciary.

The court said that it was like a gunshot, and the judiciary was now “bleeding”.