The revised NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook, titled “Exploring Society: India and Beyond”, which has a controversial section on judicial corruption, has sparked a storm of sorts with the Chief Justice of India Surya Kant taking strong objection to the chapter and stating that he will not allow anyone to defame the institution. Following strong objections, NCERT has pulled the book from its website and is expected to remove the specific portions.
CJI Kant was visibly annoyed when senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi raised the issue in open court, requesting suo motu cognisance of the matter. The chapter lists out the challenges faced by the judiciary and touches upon issues like corruption, a massive backlog of cases, and a shortfall of judges. The section also states that judges are bound by a code of conduct that governs not only their behaviour in court but also how they conduct themselves outside of it.
The judiciary has reason to feel infuriated, because it puts a question mark over the overall judicial integrity. The intention behind the chapter may not be show the judiciary in a bad light, but to educate young minds about systemic issues and accountability. That being said, the judiciary is a sensitive subject and forms the backbone of democracy, and hence needs careful consideration because allegations and perceptions can immensely shake public confidence in the justice delivery system.
The general citizenry considers the judiciary as the guardian of the Constitution, a crucial watchdog of democracy and the ultimate protector of the fundamental rights of citizens. The Bombay High Court in Goa is seen as the final frontier of justice by the people of the State in crucial matters of land and environment, and this is why people rush to the high court when everything seems lost.
That being said, the higher judiciary across India has not been without blemishes, too. Justice V Ramaswami faced impeachment proceedings in 1993. A parliamentary committee found him guilty of financial irregularities during his tenure as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Justice Soumitra Sen was found guilty of misappropriating public funds while serving as a court-appointed receiver in 2011. In the same year, Justice PD Dinakaran, former Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court, faced 16 charges, including corruption and land-grabbing. Justice SN Shukla, an Allahabad High Court judge, was found guilty by a Supreme Court in-house inquiry of misconduct in a medical college bribery case. Justice Yashwant Varma faced impeachment proceedings in 2025 after large quantities of unaccounted cash were found at his residence. There have been many others.
No institution is beyond scrutiny, not even the judiciary. However, it cannot mislead young minds into generalising that the entire institution is corrupt. The subject must be handled with nuance, especially when it is directed towards the judiciary, with an emphasis on reforms, accountability, inbuilt checks and balances and how courts have dealt with certain grey areas. Textbooks serve as the guiding light to ignite young minds, and overt sensationalisation could lead students to lose confidence in the justice delivery system.
Corruption in the judiciary is not an untouchable subject, but since it carries the sensitivity and hopes of millions of people, it needs to be truthful and constructive. The CJI’s objection is a reminder that education about corruption and integrity must be handled with responsibility. Any disrespect shown at this level could severely foster unnecessary distrust in the ultimate arbiter. We don’t want to build a new generation on those foundations.
