Centre informs Supreme Court about expert panel to finalise NCERT legal studies course amid textbook row

The Central Government has informed the Supreme Court about the formation of a panel of domain experts to finalise the legal studies course for students. This move comes after a major controversy surrounding a Class 8 NCERT textbook that contained a chapter on the judiciary, which was later withdrawn.

The information was shared in court by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who stated that the panel will include well-known legal experts and former judges. The aim of this panel is to ensure that the new course content is accurate, balanced, and appropriate for students.

The development follows strong observations made by the Supreme Court regarding the earlier textbook content, which had raised concerns about how the judiciary was being portrayed.

Expert panel and its role

The government has formed a panel of experienced legal professionals to review and finalise the legal studies curriculum. The panel includes senior lawyer and former Attorney General KK Venugopal, former Supreme Court judges Indu Malhotra and Aniruddha Bose, and the Director of the National Judicial Academy.

These experts have been chosen because of their deep understanding of the legal system and their experience in handling important constitutional matters. Their role will be to carefully examine the content of the legal studies course and ensure that it presents a fair and accurate picture of the judiciary.

The panel is expected to focus on creating content that is suitable for students while maintaining the dignity and credibility of institutions. It will also ensure that complex legal topics are explained in a simple and clear manner so that students can understand them easily.

Officials believe that involving such experienced experts will help avoid controversies in the future and improve the overall quality of educational material. The panel will also take into account feedback from different stakeholders before finalising the content.

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Textbook controversy and government response

The formation of the panel comes after a controversy over a Class 8 Social Science textbook published by NCERT. The book included a chapter that discussed issues like corruption in the judiciary, backlog of cases, and shortage of judges.

The content of this chapter was criticised, and the Supreme Court expressed its displeasure. Following this, NCERT issued an unconditional apology and decided to withdraw the entire textbook.

In its statement, NCERT said that it regretted the inconvenience caused and assured that it remains committed to maintaining high standards of accuracy and responsibility in educational content. The council also confirmed that the book would be rewritten with proper consultation.

After the court’s directions, NCERT issued an advisory asking people to return copies of the withdrawn textbook. It also requested that any content from the controversial chapter shared on social media or digital platforms be deleted immediately.

The Union Ministry of Education also took steps to prevent the spread of the content. It wrote to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Electronics and IT, asking them to stop the circulation of the textbook content online.

These actions show that the government is taking the matter seriously and wants to ensure that students are not exposed to content that may be considered inappropriate or misleading.

At the same time, experts have pointed out that discussions about challenges in the judiciary should be handled carefully. While it is important to educate students about real-world issues, the information must be presented in a balanced and responsible way.

The controversy has also started a wider discussion about how school textbooks should be designed. Many believe that educational content should encourage critical thinking but should also respect institutions and avoid creating confusion among young learners.

Way forward

The government’s decision to form an expert panel is seen as a step towards improving the quality of education. By involving experienced legal professionals, the authorities hope to create a well-structured and reliable legal studies course.

The new content is expected to provide students with a clear understanding of the legal system, including the role of courts, rights of citizens, and basic legal principles. At the same time, it will aim to avoid controversial or sensitive topics that may not be suitable for school-level education.

The Supreme Court is also likely to continue monitoring the situation to ensure that its directions are followed properly. The case highlights the importance of maintaining a balance between education and responsibility, especially when dealing with sensitive topics like the judiciary.

In conclusion, the Centre’s move to inform the Supreme Court about the expert panel marks an important step in resolving the NCERT textbook issue. It reflects an effort to ensure that educational content is accurate, balanced, and respectful.

As the panel begins its work, the focus will remain on creating a course that benefits students while maintaining trust in the education system.