Supreme Court Defends Criticism and Announces Review Committee for NCERT Textbook

The Supreme Court declined hearing a plea to remove criticism from NCERT's class 8 Social Science textbook, asserting the public's right to critique. Concurrently, a committee featuring former judges and legal luminaries was established to review the book's chapter on judicial corruption, affirming the balance between critique and acknowledgment.

The Supreme Court has declined a plea seeking the removal of a critical remark from NCERT's old class 8 Social Science textbook. The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, emphasized that critiques are an essential part of public discourse.

The Centre informed the court of a newly constituted expert committee tasked with reviewing a chapter on corruption in the judiciary. This committee comprises distinguished figures including senior advocate KK Venugopal, Justices Indu Malhotra and Aniruddha Bose, and a vice chancellor.

Former NCERT member Pankaj Pushkar's petition, addressing a passage highlighting judgments against slum dwellers, was also discussed. The judges emphasized the importance of accepting healthy criticism, benefiting public understanding of judicial workings.

(With inputs from agencies.)