CJI Surya Kant Voices Concern Over NCERT Textbook Content

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has raised objections to the inclusion of content regarding "corruption in judiciary" in the new NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook. The CJI expressed his disapproval on Wednesday, stating that he would not allow the defamation or denigration of the institution.

Details of the Objection

The issue was brought to the CJI's attention by Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who expressed their concern that Class 8 students were being taught that the judiciary is corrupt. The textbook in question, a new Social Science textbook for Class 8, includes a section on “corruption in the judiciary” and highlights the massive backlog of cases as key challenges facing India's judicial system.

CJI Kant indicated that he had received numerous calls and messages regarding the matter and assured that he was taking cognizance of the issue. He stated that it appeared to be a deliberate and calculated measure, but did not elaborate further.

NCERT Textbook Chapter

The chapter, titled “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society,” addresses challenges faced by the judicial system, including corruption, a heavy backlog of cases, and an inadequate number of judges. The book references a code of conduct for judges and the internal accountability mechanisms of the judiciary. It also mentions the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), through which over 1,600 complaints were received between 2017 and 2021.

The textbook also presents data on pending cases across courts, including approximately 81,000 cases in the Supreme Court, 62.40 lakh in High Courts, and 4.70 crore in district and subordinate courts.

Reactions and Concerns

The inclusion of this content has caused concern among members of the bar and bench. Some argue that it unfairly targets the judiciary while ignoring corruption in other branches of government.

Conclusion

CJI Surya Kant has taken note of the concerns raised regarding the NCERT Class 8 textbook's chapter on corruption within the judiciary. He has assured that he is addressing the matter and will not allow the institution to be defamed. The chapter in question identifies challenges facing the judicial system, including corruption and case backlogs, while also outlining measures in place to ensure accountability.