Last Updated:February 26, 2026, 11:48 IST

Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court, “We tender an unconditional apology,” adding that “there is no justification” for the issue that has arisen

The Centre on Thursday tendered an unconditional apology before the Supreme Court over the NCERT textbook controversy, which is being heard suo motu by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.

Appearing for the government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court, “We tender an unconditional apology," and admitted that “there is no justification" for the contents in question. He further assured the bench that the two individuals who prepared the contentious chapter “will not be associated with this ministry or any other ministry."

Making sharp observations, Chief Justice Surya Kant said, “The bullet they’ve fired, the judiciary is bleeding." He added, “Mr Solicitor, it’s a very, very calculative move… It’s not just the student, but the parents and teachers would be imbibed with this thought that the judiciary is corrupt."

Also Read: ‘Biased Narrative’: SC Issues Show-Cause Notice To NCERT Chairman Over ‘Corruption In Judiciary’ Reference

The Chief Justice further observed, “It seems to us that there is a calculated move to undermine the institutional authority and demean the dignity of the judiciary. This, if allowed to go unchecked, will erode the sanctity of judicial office in the estimation of the public at large and within the impressionable minds of youth."

Responding to the court’s concerns, the Solicitor General said, “We stand for the institution."

The Chief Justice further noted that while the publication devotes an entire chapter to the role of the judiciary in society, it omits the illustrious history of the Supreme Court, High Courts and trial courts. He observed that the text fails to acknowledge the judiciary’s contribution to preserving the democratic fabric of the country, including its role in upholding the basic structure doctrine.

The Chief Justice also observed that the narrative in the book does not appear to engage with the transformative measures introduced by the Supreme Court, including the strengthening of legal aid mechanisms and efforts to streamline access to justice.

NCERT Withdraws Book

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has withdrawn the distribution of its newly released Class 8 Social Science textbook and issued an apology after “inappropriate textual material and error of judgement" were found in a chapter dealing with the judiciary.

In a press statement, NCERT said the textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Vol II, for Class 8 was released on February 24, 2026. However, after circulation, it was observed that certain inappropriate textual material and an error of judgement had inadvertently appeared in Chapter 4, titled “The Role of Judiciary in our Society" (pages 125–142).

The Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education also flagged the issue and directed that the distribution of the book be kept on strict hold until further orders. NCERT said it has complied with the directive.

Clarifying its position, NCERT said it holds the judiciary in the highest esteem and regards it as the upholder of the Constitution and protector of Fundamental Rights. “The aforesaid error is purely unintentional and NCERT regrets the inclusion of inappropriate material in the said chapter," the statement said.

NCERT reiterated that the objective of the new textbooks is to strengthen constitutional literacy, institutional respect and an informed understanding of democratic participation among students.

News india ‘Judiciary Is Bleeding’: Supreme Court On NCERT Row As Centre Tenders Unconditional Apology

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