The Supreme Court today amended an order given in the NCERT book controversy case. In this order, the Centre, states and others were directed to maintain distance from the three academicians. The decision was taken following the controversy that started after a chapter of an NCERT book included ‘objectionable’ material related to corruption in the judiciary.
The Supreme Court gave the Centre, states, Union Territories, public universities and institutions receiving financial assistance from the Central or State Governments the freedom to decide independently on this issue and said that they can decide without being influenced by its observations made in the March 11 order.
What changes did the court make in the order?
A bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi also recalled that part of the March 11 order which had said that the three academicians – Professor Michelle Danino, Suparna Diwakar and Alok Prasanna Kumar – had knowingly and willfully misrepresented the facts with the aim of presenting a negative image of the Indian judiciary to class eight students.
The court said that textbooks are not a suitable place for cartoons. CJI Surya Kant said that now a committee has been formed under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court judge Justice Indu Malhotra. We can request them to continue the proceedings. CJI said that SG has requested and it is appropriate that the said textbook should also be sent to the committee.
This matter should be placed before Justice Indu Malhotra: CJI
The bench passed this order while hearing the petition filed by the three academicians, in which they presented their stand and said that the decision of any one person in drafting the material was not final, but it was a collective process. The court also said that its comments were made in the context of the subject matter and not in the context of individuals.
What order had the court given earlier?
Taking strict action against three experts involved in drafting the controversial chapter in NCERT’s Class 8 Social Science textbook, the Supreme Court on March 11 had directed the Center and all states to detain them. It had directed the Center to constitute a committee of experts in the relevant field within a week to finalize the NCERT legal studies syllabus not only for class eight but also for higher classes.
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