New Delhi, 06 April (H.S.):

Three academics blacklisted by the Supreme Court for authoring a controversial Class 8 NCERT textbook chapter on judicial corruption have approached the apex court seeking removal of adverse observations against them.

On March 8, a bench led by Chief Justice Suryakant—having taken suo motu cognizance of the Exploring Society: India and Beyond textbook's content—ordered Professors Michel Danino, Suparna Diwakar, and Alok Prasanna Kumar disassociated from government-funded work.

The court condemned the chapter for deliberately fostering negative judicial perceptions among impressionable Class 8 students, questioning their knowledge or intent.

The trio's lawyers mentioned their petitions before CJI Suryakant's bench, demanding listing post-curiae advisals. The court directed post-curative listing. Previously, it mandated NCERT and Centre to withdraw all physical/digital copies nationwide, deeming any circulation contemptuous.

The February uproar followed media reports on the Role of Judiciary chapter citing corruption; NCERT withdrew it amid PM Modi's reported displeasure and Education Minister's regret. Court rejected initial apology as insincere, banned production/distribution, seized copies, and ordered syllabi board minutes probe—later forming an expert panel (ex-judge, academician, lawyer) to vet revisions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar