Withdrawn Class 8 NCRET textbook drafted by panel including lawyer, say officials

NEW DELHI: The now-withdrawn Class 8 Social Science textbook of NCERT was drafted by a committee of subject experts that included a lawyer, officials said, adding that there is no separate procedure requiring chapters to be vetted independently by members of the legal fraternity.

The clarification comes amid reports claiming that the controversial chapter on the judiciary in now withdrawn book- Exploring Society: India and Beyond- was not reviewed by the legal fraternity.

When asked whether it is mandatory for a chapter dealing with the judiciary to be vetted separately by members of the legal fraternity, the official said, “That is not how textbooks are written. There is no mandatory clause requiring such separate vetting. This is a misconception”. The official said the committee comprised experts from relevant fields and that additional expertise can be invited where required.

“There is a certain process for writing textbooks. The books are written by subject experts, reviewed extensively, and eventually vetted by the National Syllabus Learning Teaching Material Committee before publication. The book is read by many people within NCERT. There is usually a lot of debate and changes before it is finalised”. the official said, explaining the process of preparing the book.

However, the official acknowledged that “inappropriate textual material has crept into the textbook,” calling it an error of judgment for which NCERT has already expressed regret and withdrawn the book.

The Supreme Court has called for action against those responsible for drafting the controversial chapter, observing that there appeared to be a “well-orchestrated conspiracy” to defame the judiciary. The court imposed a blanket ban on the Class 8 book and directed that all physical and digital copies be seized.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also expressed dismay over the content and assured that accountability would be fixed.

The NCERT on Wednesday issued a public apology and halted the distribution of the textbook after acknowledging that inappropriate material had found its way into the chapter titled “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society”. The book, released on February 24, introduced a section discussing challenges faced by the judiciary, including corruption and case pendency.

Meanwhile, NCERT, along with the Education Ministry, has initiated steps to rectify the error, officials added. Sources said NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani is examining the circumstances under which the content was included and will identify the persons or procedures responsible.

The Education Ministry has also written to the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and Information Technology, seeking immediate steps to halt the dissemination of the withdrawn textbook through digital and electronic platforms. New Delhi [India], February 27 (ANI): The Director of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Dinesh Prashad Saklani, is ascertaining the process behind the preparation of textbooks that led to what has been described as an “error of judgment,” and will identify the persons or procedures responsible, sources said.

“The Director, NCERT, is ascertaining the process of making of the textbooks, which has led to this error of judgment and also identifying the persons/processes responsible for the same. This would also ensure that this kind of inappropriateness is completely avoided in future. This shall be done with the utmost strictness,” sources said.

The development comes amid a controversy over the inclusion of a sub-chapter titled “Corruption in the judiciary” in a Class 8 Social Science textbook. The Supreme Court of India has taken strong exception to the content and initiated suo motu proceedings. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant issued show cause notices to the Secretary of the Department of Education and Literacy and NCERT Director Dinesh Prashad Saklani, seeking an explanation on why action should not be initiated under contempt or other applicable laws.

The apex court has also imposed a blanket ban on the contentious section and sought records of the committee that approved it. The NCERT has since withdrawn distribution of the textbook and issued an apology, stating that the material would be reviewed and revised following due consultation.

Meanwhile, several politicians have reacted on the development with Congress MP Jairam Ramesh backed the Supreme Court’s outrage, calling the rewriting of NCERT textbooks over the past decade “shameful” and alleging that it reflected the “vile and malice-driven work” of the RSS. He demanded a broader investigation into those responsible.

BJD MP Sasmit Patra also supported the apex court’s action, describing the curriculum as “extremely unwarranted and deplorable.” He called for not only withdrawal of the books but also accountability and safeguards to prevent similar content from entering textbooks in the future.

Members of the Bar echoed similar concerns. Senior Advocate Pinky Anand termed the content “calculated and targeted,” while Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay suggested that discussions on corruption should be broader and not confined to the judiciary alone. Adish C Aggarwala, Chairman of the All India Bar Association, said the court had taken the right step and termed the inclusion a serious lapse. (ANI)