Day after the NCERT issued a public apology over controversial content regarding the judiciary in its Class 8 textbook, the Centre on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that it has directed the council to review the textbooks of all classes.
However, the court said that instead of asking the NCERT to do so, it would have appreciated if the Centre constituted an expert committee to review the curriculum.
An apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi was hearing a suo motu case concerning NCERT's Class 8 social science book, which contained "offending" contents on corruption in the judiciary.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the government has asked the NCERT to review textbooks of all classes, not just Class eight.
He assured the bench that a panel of domain experts would be constituted to examine the curriculum.
"We have started systemic changes," he told the bench, adding that nothing will be published without being vetted by the domain experts.
Mehta also informed the bench that the NCERT director has filed an affidavit tendering an unconditional and unqualified apology.
On February 26, the apex court imposed a "complete blanket ban" on any further publication, reprinting or digital dissemination of NCERT's Class 8 social science book as it contains "offending" contents on corruption in the judiciary, saying they have fired a gunshot and the judiciary is "bleeding".
Observing that there appeared to be a "deep-rooted conspiracy" and "calculated move" to undermine the institution and demean the dignity of the judiciary, the apex court had directed that all copies of the book currently in circulation be immediately seized and removed from public access without any delay.
(With inputs from PTI)
