CJI takes strong exception to NCERT’s class 8 book which claims ‘corruption in judiciary’: ‘Calculated move’

This seems to be a calculated move, said CJI

The Supreme Court on Wednesday strongly objected to the new National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) class 8 social science textbook containing portions regarding “corruption in judiciary”.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant criticised the reference and termed the move as "calculated". "I will not allow anybody to defame the institution. Law will take its course,” CJI Kant said, according to a report by Bar and Bench.

"As head of the institution. I have done my duty and I have taken cognisance. This seems to be a calculated move. I won't say much," he stated.

The CJI's remarks came after senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi mentioned the matter before him. "NCERT is teaching class 8 students about judicial corruption. This is a matter of grave concern. We are here for the bar," Sibal was quoted as saying in the report.

According to a report by The Indian Express, the book has a section on “corruption in the judiciary” as part of a chapter on “The role of the judiciary in our society”.

The chapter lists “corruption at various levels of the judiciary” and “massive backlog…on account of multiple reasons, such as a lack of an adequate number of judges, complicated legal procedures, and poor infrastructure” as among the “challenges” faced by the judicial system.

"This is definitely concerning the entire institution. The bar and the bench are perturbed. Every stakeholder in the system is really perturbed, I am receiving lot of calls and messages. There are judges of High Courts who are perturbed," CJI Kant said.

The earlier textbook limited itself to explaining the role of the judiciary, the meaning of judicial independence, the structure of courts and how citizens can access them, without any reference to corruption. It did, however, note that delays in court proceedings -- often stretching over several years -- can affect a common person’s access to justice.