SC bans Class 8 textbook, orders seizure of copies, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court banned a Class 8 social science textbook published by NCERT in February.
• The ban was due to the textbook portraying the judiciary as a corrupt institution, which the court deemed a "deep-rooted conspiracy".
• The court ordered the immediate seizure of all physical and digital copies of the textbook.
• Contempt action was initiated, and show cause notices were issued to the Secretary of the Department of School Education and NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani.

Detailed Insights:

• The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the issue, expressing concern over the textbook's potential to negatively influence young students and society's perception of the judiciary.
• The court criticized the NCERT Director's defense of the textbook's content, viewing it as an attempt to undermine the judiciary's authority and dignity.
• The textbook failed to acknowledge the judiciary's role in upholding constitutional morality, the basic structure of the Constitution, and transformative measures like legal aid.
• The Solicitor-General offered an unconditional apology on behalf of the government, assuring that those involved in creating the textbook would not be assigned such tasks in the future.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Suo Motu: An action taken by a court on its own accord, without a formal request from another party.
• Contempt Action: Legal proceedings initiated against individuals or entities for disobeying or disrespecting a court's authority.
• Basic Structure: A judicial doctrine that certain fundamental features of the Indian Constitution cannot be altered by amendments.