Centre Issues Unconditional Apology After CJI Blasts NCERT Over ‘Conspiracy’ to Defame Indian Judiciary
In a stunning turn of events that has rocked the corridors of power in New Delhi, the Central Government has issued a formal, “unconditional” apology to the Supreme Court of India. The move comes after a heated confrontation regarding controversial content found in a Class 8 textbook, which the Chief Justice of India (CJI) described in remarkably sharp terms.
The Root of the Conflict
The controversy centers on a Social Science textbook published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). Within a chapter titled “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society,” a specific section discussed “corruption in the judiciary.”
While educational books often aim to encourage critical thinking, the Supreme Court took grave offense at the framing of this section. The court argued that the content wasn’t just an educational oversight but a targeted attack on the integrity of the Indian legal system.
“A Deep-Rooted Conspiracy”
The hearing took a dramatic turn when Chief Justice of India Surya Kant expressed his outrage. The CJI didn’t pull any punches, stating that the inclusion of such material appeared to be part of a “deep-rooted, well-planned conspiracy to defame the judiciary.”
The court’s concern is that teaching impressionable middle-school students that the judicial system is inherently corrupt could permanently damage the public’s trust in one of the pillars of democracy.
The Government Steps In
Recognizing the severity of the CJI’s remarks, the Centre moved quickly to damage control. Representing the Ministry of Education, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stood before the bench on Thursday to offer an unqualified and unconditional apology.
The NCERT itself had already begun backpedaling on Wednesday, officially stating that it “regrets the inclusion of inappropriate material.” The Council has signaled that the offending sections will be removed or heavily revised to ensure they align with the dignity of the court.
Why This Matters to Parents and Students
For the millions of students using NCERT books, this row highlights a massive lapse in the “vetting” process the system that checks what actually makes it into our children’s backpacks.
When the highest court in the land calls out a textbook for “conspiracy,” it raises serious questions about who is writing these chapters and what their intentions are. For now, the government is scrambling to prove that this was a mistake and not a coordinated effort to undermine the courts.
