The Supreme Court imposed a complete blanket ban on the NCERT Class 8 social science textbook. (File Photo)The Supreme Court Thursday imposed a “complete blanket ban” on the further publication, reprinting or digital dissemination of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)’s Class 8 social science textbook, as it termed the Council’s decision to introduce a section on ‘corruption in the judiciary” a “calculated move to undermine and demean dignity of judiciary”.A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya and Vipul M Pancholi also issued notices to the secretary, School Education Department, Ministry of Education, and the Council Director, asking them to show cause why action under the Contempt of Courts Act or any other provisions of law should not be initiated against them.“Any attempt to circumvent this order through electronic means or altered titles shall be seen as direct interference, willful breach and defiance of directions,” the bench said while taking up a suo motu case registered in connection with the book contents, first reported by The Indian Express.The bench also asked the government to issue orders to take down the PDF copies of the book available online.The bench said the NCERT director and the principal of every school will be personally responsible for ensuring that the book has reached “to effectuate immediate seizure and sealing of all copies of the book in their premises and submit a compliance report”. The bench also directed that no instruction be imparted based on the subject book.The bench asked principal secretaries of all states to file a compliance report in 2 weeks‘Calculated move to undermine and demean judiciary’s dignity’The bench also made it clear that it was not happy with the apology issued by NCERT. “There is not a single word of apology in this notice and the manner in which this Director has attempted to compound,” said CJI Surya Kant.Story continues below this adCJI Surya Kant added that, though “a very responsible newspaper had published”, he had asked the SC Secretary General to verify the report, as the court did not want to rely on media reports alone. “In communication, he is defending,” said the CJI, adding, “there’s a deep-rooted conspiracy”.The bench said, “It seems to us that there’s a calculated move to undermine and demean the dignity of the judiciary” and “if allowed to go unchecked, it will erode the sanctity of judicial office in the estimation of the public.”The court said “while the publication extensively dedicates an entire chapter to the role of judiciary in our society”, it “washes off with one stroke of pen the illustrious history associated with the Supreme Court, the High Courts and District Courts” and has “conspicuously omitted…the substantial contributions made by these institutions towards preservation of democratic fabric.”Also Read | Exclusive: NCERT pulls out new Class 8 Social Science textbook after row over section on ‘corruption in judiciary’It said the text of the book “unfortunately fails to acknowledge the imperative role of the judiciary, which it undertakes in upholding constitutional morality and the basic structure doctrine, which are the lifeblood of the Indian citizenry’s public existence”.Story continues below this ad“It seems to us that the narrative contained in the book chooses not to delve into any of the transformative initiatives and measures pioneered by this court in overhauling the legal aid mechanism and streamlining access to justice. This silence is particularly egregious given the sheer volume of high-ranking officials who have been censured by this court in the past for corrupt practises, fraudulent activities, and for illicit siphoning of public funds, etc.”The bench also thanked the media for reporting the matter. “It is our responsible media that has brought this into the public domain,” said the CJI.The court will hear the matter next after the Holi recess. © The Indian Express Pvt Ltd