Supreme Court Directs Panel For Legal Studies Curriculum
- Legal studies curriculum in NCERT textbooks under Supreme Court scrutiny
- Panel of domain experts to finalise legal studies content in NCERT books
Hyderabad: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Centre to constitute a committee of domain experts within a week to finalise the curriculum related to legal studies in NCERT textbooks. The order came during the hearing of a suo motu case linked to “offending” content in an NCERT Class 8 social science book concerning corruption in the judiciary.
The apex court clarified that its directions were not meant to stop healthy and objective criticism of the judiciary. However, it stressed the need to ensure accuracy and responsibility in academic content. The court noted that the chapter in question was drafted by the textbook development team under the chairmanship of Professor Michel Danino.
Meanwhile, a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant directed the Centre, states, Union Territories and universities to immediately disassociate three experts who drafted the controversial chapter. The team included Suparna Diwakar and Alok Prasanna Kumar as members. The bench also said the three experts could approach the apex court if they wanted modification of the order.
The bench, which also included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, said the expert panel that will finalise the legal studies curriculum should include a former judge, an academician and a renowned law practitioner. The court also asked the Centre to involve the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal while finalising the curriculum.
During the hearing, the Centre informed the court that it had directed the NCERT to review textbooks of all classes. However, the bench observed that instead of asking NCERT to conduct the review, it would have preferred the Centre to form an expert committee to examine the curriculum.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that the government had asked NCERT to review textbooks of all classes and not only Class 8. He also assured the court that a panel of domain experts would be formed to examine the curriculum. “We have started systemic changes,” he told the bench, adding that nothing would be published without being vetted by domain experts.
Mehta further informed the bench that the NCERT director had filed an affidavit offering an unconditional and unqualified apology. Earlier, on February 26, the Supreme Court imposed a “complete blanket ban” on further publication, reprinting or digital circulation of the Class 8 social science book containing “offending” content on corruption in the judiciary.
The court had said that the content had “fired a gunshot” and that the judiciary was “bleeding”. It also observed that there appeared to be a “deep-rooted conspiracy” and a “calculated move” to undermine the institution and damage the dignity of the judiciary. Therefore, the court ordered that all physical and digital copies of the book in circulation be seized and removed from public access without delay.
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