Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly expressed 'displeasure' over the recent NCERT class 8 book controversy, and has said that the 'accountability
should be fixed'. During the cabinet meeting that took place on Tuesday, PM Modi reportedly questioned the inclusion of the chapter on 'corruption in the judiciary' and questioned what was being taught to Indian students. He also questioned that why was this portion being taught to students who are just in class 8. Earlier in the day, the Minister of Education of India Dharmendra Pradhan, too, broke silence on the issue stating that his Ministry 'will fully comply with' whatever the Supreme Court has instructed. "We have the utmost respect for the judiciary. Whatever the judiciary has said, we will fully comply with it. I am deeply saddened by what has happened, and I express my regret. As soon as the matter came to my notice, I immediately instructed NCERT to withdraw the concerned books so that they do not circulate further. Necessary steps have been taken to recall them..." Pradhan told news agencies in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Pradhan also assured that an investigation is being launched into this matter to check who all were involved in drafting this section, and action will be taken against those involved. "Accountability will be fixed, action will be taken against those involved in drafting chapter on judicial corruption," he was quoted by PTI. The controversy broke out when a new NCERT class 8 Social Science textbook carried a section “corruption in the judiciary” as part of a chapter on “The role of the judiciary in our society”. This chapter reportedly stated that there is “corruption at various levels of the judiciary”. In reaction to this, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant warned that he “will not allow anyone on earth to play with the integrity and to defame the institution”. On February 26, the Supreme Court conducted a hearing against this, in which the apex court ordered a ban on further publication, printing or digital dissemination of NCERT class 8 book. Meanwhile, NCERT issued an apology on February 26 morning, but the CJI has also issued notices under the Contempt of Courts Act to the Department of School Education and to NCERT Director Dr Dinesh Prasad Saklani.
