Law Must Take Course Against Mischief Mongers, No One Will Be Spared: Apex Court Directs Centre To Identify Persons Behind Online Content In NCERT Case

The Supreme Court has directed the Central Government to identify social media elements/sites and individuals who have "acted and reacted irresponsibly" following the Court’s recent intervention in the NCERT textbook controversy.

The Court has also directed the Union and State governments to "disassociate forthwith" from authors Professor Michel Danino, Suparna Diwakar, and Alok Prasanna Kumar, barring them from any roles funded by public money.

Further, the Bench slammed the "casual" approval process that bypassed the National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee (NSTC), mandating that any future judicial curriculum must be vetted by a new high-powered committee comprising a former senior judge, a renowned academician, and a legal practitioner. 

The Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi ordered, "After the order dated 26.02.2026 was passed, some elements in so-called social media have acted and reacted irresponsibly. We firmly believe in catching the bull by its horns. We accordingly direct the Government of India to identify such sites and the persons behind such sites and furnish full details to enable us to take suitable action. The law must take its course against mischief mongers. No one will be spared."

To this, SG Tushar Mehta said, "On the subject of the social media, I read something beautiful, we used to learn Newton's Law i.e. against every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Now the next law is that for every action there is dispropotionate and idiotic over reaction on social media. Only thing you need is a smartphone and a free wifi and lots of time at your disposal."

Chief Justice Kant said, "Our concern is only with this information."

Mehta added, "It is the most abused medium of communication."

One Counsel said, "Today the difficulty is that the wisdom has been sacrificed for gossip...all that is being transmitted on social media. They're not short of pointing fingers at anybody."

Chief Justice said, "Mr Nakul, what is Bar doing?...Even if they are hiding outside the country, I will not spare them. I am sitting here."

The Court took suo motu notice following media reports that the textbook was "ex facie meant for maligning the Indian judiciary." It was revealed that the controversial chapter—drafted by a team under a visiting professor, including Suparna Diwakar and  Alok Prasanna Kumar—was never placed before the full National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee (NSTC), but was instead circulated only among a few members digitally.

The Court expressed serious doubts about the knowledge and intent of the drafting team, specifically naming Professor Michel Danino, Diwakar, and Kumar. The Union and all State Governments, Union Territories, universities, and public institutions were directed to immediately disassociate from these three individuals. They were prohibited from any roles funded by public money until they approach the Court for a modification of this order.

The Bench was "perturbed" by the NCERT Director’s claim that the chapter had already been "duly rewritten" without disclosing who the new experts were. To ensure future accuracy, the Court directed the Government of India to form a Committee of Domain Experts comprising: one former Senior Judge; one renowned Academician; and one renowned Legal Practitioner. No rewritten chapter regarding the judiciary can be published without this committee's explicit approval.

On February 25, the Court took suo motu cognizance of the matter on February 25, 2026, after Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi mentioned the issue before the Bench and expressed that the legal community is "deeply disturbed" by the fact that young students are being taught that the judiciary is a corrupt body.

On the last date of hearing, the Court issued a show cause notice for contempt to the Secretary of School Education, Ministry of Education and the Director of NCERT while imposing a "complete blanket ban" on the publication.

On March 10, 2026, the NCERT issued a public apology which said, "National Council of Educational Research and Training [NCERT] has recently published a social science text book “Exploring Society: India and Beyond” Grade 8 (Part -II) which contained Chapter IV titled “The Role of Judiciary in our Society”. The Director and Members of NCERT hereby tender an unconditional and unqualified apology for the said Chapter IV. The entire book has been withdrawn and is not available."

Cause Title: In Re Social Science Textbook For Grade 8 Part 2 Published By NCERT and Ancillary Issues [SMW(C) No. 1/2026]