New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed strong dissatisfaction over the controversy surrounding an NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook that included a chapter on “corruption in the judiciary,” according to government source. His reaction follows sharp criticism from the Supreme Court, which described the content as defamatory and  unacceptable. According to senior government officials, the Prime Minister sought to know who had authorised the material and questioned the rationale behind introducing such topics to Class 8 students. He also reportedly demanded accountability from those responsible for overseeing the publication.

The Centre and the NCERT offered an unconditional apology before the Supreme Court after the textbook—Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Vol II, released on February 24—came under scrutiny. Within hours, the book was withdrawn from the NCERT website, and all physical distribution was halted. The controversy reached the Supreme Court following an urgent mention by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant issued a stern warning, stating that “nobody on earth will be allowed to defame the judiciary and taint its integrity.”

Calling the publication “serious misconduct,” the court directed that all existing copies of the book be “seized” immediately. A contempt notice was also issued to NCERT Chairman Professor Dinesh Prasad Saklani and the Secretary of School Education. “As head of the judiciary, it is my duty to ensure accountability; heads must roll,” CJI Kant told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for NCERT and the Ministry of Education. Mehta submitted an unconditional and unqualified apology on behalf of the government. NCERT has since announced that it will rewrite the curriculum for the withdrawn textbook.

Disclaimer: This news is written on the basis of information received from different authentic sources.