NCERT Issues Public Apology For Chapter On Judicial Corruption Ahead Of Supreme Court Hearing In Suo Motu Case

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has issued a public apology for publishing a chapter on judicial corruption in a Class 8 Text Book.

It may be noted that the public apology has come a day ahead of the Supreme Court's scheduled hearing in the suo motu case regarding the chapter, in which it had, on February 26, issued show-cause notices to the NCERT Director and the Secretary of the School Education Department for contempt proceedings.

The Court had also directed a ban on the circulation of the textbook and the removal of its soft copies, after taking serious note of the contents of the chapter. The suo motu case is posted tomorrow.

During the previous hearing, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant expressed dissatisfaction with an earlier statement issued by NCERT merely expressing regret over the publication, observing that the response was inadequate. Remarking that "heads must roll", the CJI had asked the Government to submit the names of the officials involved in the preparation of the chapter.

Following that, NCERT issued a press release dated March 10, 2026, tendering an “unconditional and unqualified apology.”

In the statement, NCERT said that it had recently published a social science textbook titled “Exploring Society: India and Beyond” for Grade 8 (Part II) which contained Chapter IV titled “The Role of Judiciary in our Society.”

The press release stated:

“The Director and Members of NCERT hereby tender an unconditional and unqualified apology for the said Chapter IV. The entire book has been withdrawn and is not available.”