Article 2: Justice for all
Why in news: The Supreme Court of India criticised a National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbook for referencing judicial corruption, directing exclusion of its authors, raising concerns about academic freedom, selective scrutiny, and objectivity in school textbooks.
Key Details
- The Supreme Court of India criticised references to judicial corruption in a National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbook, stating authors lacked proper understanding of the judiciary.
- The Court directed that members of the textbook team should not be involved in future curriculum or textbook preparation, raising concerns about academic freedom.
- Critics argue the Court should encourage expert review mechanisms rather than broadly excluding textbook writers.
- Textbook revisions under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government have introduced religious and cultural references, such as Vedic rituals, across subjects.
- Concerns persist over biased historical narratives, where Muslim rulers are portrayed negatively and Hindu kingdoms positively, undermining objectivity in education.
Supreme Court’s Concern Over NCERT Textbook Content
- The Supreme Court of India expressed concern over references to judicial corruption in a textbook prepared by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
- The Court stated that the textbook development team lacked adequate understanding of the Indian judiciary.
- It directed that such individuals should not be involved in preparing or finalising school textbooks in the future.
Concerns About Judicial Intervention
- The Court’s broad directive may undermine the textbook development process.
- Instead of excluding authors, the Court could have recommended expert review mechanisms for chapters related to the judiciary.
- Similar review processes could also apply to other sensitive subjects such as history.
Debate Over Ideological Influence in Textbooks
- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier criticised Indian textbooks as “Macaulay-influenced” and excessively westernised.
- After coming to power, efforts were made to revise textbooks to reflect India’s traditions and cultural heritage.
- As a result, references to Hindu rituals and beliefs have increasingly appeared across subjects.
Examples of Content Controversy
- A solar energy discussion in textbooks refers to the Vedic ritual of “arghyam”, a salutation to the sun.
- A Class 7 geography chapter describes a divine feminine presence across the Indian landmass, presenting it as sacred.
- Critics argue that scientific subjects should remain objective and free from religious interpretations.
Need for Balanced and Objective Textbooks
- Some textbooks portray Muslim rulers as uniformly oppressive, while Hindu kingdoms are depicted positively, raising concerns of bias.
- Selective targeting of chapters, particularly those about the judiciary, may create the perception that the judiciary is protecting its own image.
- Textbooks should promote objectivity, fairness, inquiry, equality, peace, and social harmony to ensure balanced education for students.
Conclusion
The controversy highlights tensions between judicial sensitivity and academic freedom. While safeguarding the credibility of the Supreme Court of India is important, broad restrictions on textbook authors risk undermining independent scholarship. A balanced approach—through transparent review, diverse expert participation, and objective content standards in National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks—is essential to promote fairness, critical inquiry, and public trust.