New Delhi: Hours after the Supreme Court ordered a blanket ban on an National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) Class VIII textbook which contained a chapter on judicial corruption, Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan apologised and ordered an inquiry.
“We hold the judiciary in the highest regard… There was absolutely no intention on the part of the government to disrespect the judiciary. We are taking this matter very seriously… We will fully comply with the judiciary’s decision. I am deeply saddened by what happened and express my regret,” Pradhan told reporters.
“As soon as this matter came to my attention, I immediately instructed the NCERT to withdraw all the books and ensured that they do not go into circulation. An inquiry will be conducted into the NCERT, and action will be taken against those involved in creating that chapter. I assure the judiciary that such a mistake will not be repeated in the future,” Pradhan said.
#WATCH | Seraikela Kharsawan, Jharkhand: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says, “The mention of Supreme Court and India’s judicial system in the NCERT is a matter of concern. When this came to our knowledge, we made NCERT review the books. The observations by the… pic.twitter.com/cjSLwtoLwt
— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2026
NCERT’s social science textbook was a the centre of a huge controversy, and the Supreme Court took a stern view of the matter.
Observing that there appeared to be a “well-orchestrated conspiracy” to defame the judiciary, the top court imposed a “complete blanket ban” on the Class VIII NCERT book and ordered all copies, physical and digital, be seized, and added that heads must roll.