New Delhi, February 26 Following the criticism from the Supreme Court, the NCERT is investigating the process used to create the textbooks that led to the inclusion of a chapter on "judicial corruption," sources said.
The Council is also identifying the individuals responsible for the inclusion of the text.
"The NCERT is investigating the textbook creation process that led to this error in judgment and also identifying the individuals responsible. This will also ensure that such inappropriateness is completely avoided in the future. This will be done with utmost strictness," a source said.
Earlier in the day, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his dismay over the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) including a chapter on judicial corruption in its Class 8 textbook, while promising to hold those responsible accountable and take action against those involved in drafting the controversial portion.
His remarks came on a day when the Supreme Court observed that there appeared to be a "well-orchestrated conspiracy" to defame the judiciary. It imposed a "complete ban" on the Class 8 NCERT book and ordered that all copies, physical and digital, be seized.
The NCERT's Social Science textbook for Class 8 states that corruption, a massive backlog of cases, and the lack of an adequate number of judges are among the challenges faced by the judicial system.
After stern words from the Supreme Court that it would not allow "anyone on earth" to tarnish the judiciary's integrity, the NCERT removed the textbook from its website, with sources saying that the government was furious about the controversial references in the curriculum.
The NCERT also apologized for "inappropriate content" after facing criticism from the Supreme Court over the chapter and said that the book will be rewritten in consultation with appropriate authorities.