Supreme Court Suo Motu Case Over NCERT Text Book : Live Updates From Hearing

Order: Prima facie, it seems to us that there's a calculated move to undermine and demean dignity of judiciary. If allowed to go unchecked, it will erode the sanctity of judicial office in estimation of public...while the publication dedicates entire chapter to the role of judiciary and washes of with one stroke the illustrious history of SC, HCs has omitted the substantial contributions made by these institutions towards preservation of democratic fabric.

Order: Not only this, article further goes on to declare that "people experience different levels of corruption in judiciary"...in the wake of the publication of the book and article by The Indian Express, the Secy General of this court was asked to verify whether such publication was released by NCERT. Instead of having an introspection of what had been written in the book in the most reckless, motivated and contemptuous manner, the Director responded in writing defending the contents of the book.

Order: it incorporates a sub-topic explicitly expounding 'corruption in judiciary'...the inclusion of the subject matter within a foundational campaign warrants a rigorous review of its...institutional standing of the judiciary's standing...reluctant to reproduce contents of the chapter...it refers to 100s of complaints received against judiciary, clearly indicating as if no action was taken, picking a few words from the statement of a former CJI suggesting as if judiciary itself has acknowledged institutional corruption.

Order: Framers of our Constitution were profoundly conscious and took abundant caution to ensure that consitutitional...were inscribed with such prevision that the 3 pillars remain capable of operating with respect to autonomy while functioning in ...the democratic fabric...while acknowledging constitutionally prescribed demarcation, we were in shock when one of the leading newspapers published an article regarding release of the social science textbook for grade 8 (part 2) titled "exploring society India and Beyond, First edition" published by NCERT...chapter 4 of the publication is titled 'the role of judiciary in our society'.

SG: Take down orders can be passed, statutory provisions will be exercised

Sibal: Everybody has it, people are sending it around

CJI: We would like to have a deeper probe. As head of judiciary, it's my duty to find out who is responsible. Won't close till I am satisfied

SG: We are not taking adversarial stand. Whoever is responsible must pay to your lordships' satisfaction.

Singhvi: Nothing about the overall endemic system. One person is selected

Sibal: What about politicians, bureaucracy, ministers? This is in pdf form, circulated throughout

J Bagchi: These articles and excerpt are in public domain. Govt to issue take down orders...judiciary is protector of Constitution...nothing like that highlighted

SG: Must be taken down, I bow down.

SG says persons responsible will not be associated further in such work

CJI: That's very little consequence. They fired gunshot, judiciary is bleeding today

Sr Adv Vikas Singh: I saw a podcast yesterday, some former Director is defending

CJI: It's available in market, I also got a copy from sources

SG: 32 books went in market, they are being withdrawn. Entire chapter would be revisited by a team. There's another part about pendency, title is 'justice delayed is justice denied'...we can't teach that justice is denied.

Hearing in #NCERT textbook suo motu case begins

Sr Advs Kapil Sibal, Dr AM Singhvi and SG Tushar Mehta appear

SG: At the outset, we tender unconditional apology...Secretary, School Education is here

CJI: There is not a single word of apology in their notice...someone sent to me...the manner in which this Director has attempted to compound...I asked Secretary General to find out whether such publication infact took place...very responsible newspaper had published, still...there's deep-rooted conspiracy!

NCERT issues a press release regretting the publishing of the text book containing a chapter on judicial corruption.

NCERT says it will rewrite the chapter.

The development came after the #Supreme Court expressed displeasure over the text book content.