Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on  sent out a strong and unmistakable message over a controversial reference to “corruption in the judiciary” in a newly introduced Class 8 Social Science textbook published by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), declaring that the dignity of the institution would be protected at all costs.

Taking serious note of the issue, the CJI made it clear in open court that he had already initiated suo motu proceedings. Reacting firmly to concerns raised by senior members of the Bar, he said, “I will not allow anyone on earth to taint the integrity of the institution and defame the institution. At any cost, I will not permit it. Whosoever high it may be, the law will take its course.”

The remarks came after the matter was brought to the court’s attention by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who was joined by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Sibal informed the bench that members of the legal fraternity were deeply disturbed by the content of the newly released textbook. He described the reference to alleged corruption within the judiciary in material meant for Class 8 students as “entirely scandalous” and urged the court to step in immediately.

According to a report published by The Indian Express on February 24, the revised textbook includes a section discussing “corruption at various levels of the judiciary” as part of a chapter titled “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society.” The chapter reportedly highlights challenges such as alleged corruption and a massive backlog of cases. It attributes delays in justice delivery to factors including shortage of judges, complex legal procedures, and inadequate infrastructure.

Earlier editions of the same textbook reportedly focused on explaining the structure, functions, and independence of the judiciary. Those versions mentioned the problem of delayed justice but confined the discussion to systemic issues, using the phrase “justice delayed is justice denied,” without explicitly referring to corruption within the institution.

During the hearing, the Chief Justice emphasized that the issue was not about any individual but about safeguarding the credibility of the entire judicial system. He noted that both the Bench and the Bar were upset by the development and assured that necessary steps had already been set in motion.