The three academics behind the controversial Class 8 NCERT chapter on “Corruption in Judiciary” submitted explanations to the Supreme Court, challenging prior doubts on their credibility. The Court noted a high-powered committee will review the curriculum comprehensively, while the textbook remains banned pending accountability and detailed disclosures from NCERT.

New Delhi: The three academicians who formed part of the Textbook Development Team behind the controversial "Corruption in Judiciary" sub-chapter in the Class Eighth NCERT Social Science textbook informed the Supreme Court on Monday that they have filed their response (explanation) in compliance with the Court's earlier order.

Senior Advocates Gopal Sankarnarayanan, Aravind Datar and J. Sai Deepak, representing the three expert author-cum-academics - Suparna Diwakar, Michel Danino and Alok Prasanna Kumar, respectively - appeared before a bench led by CJI Surya Kant and requested that the court list those applications and take it up on the next hearing.

Sankarnarayanan requested that the Court examine their explanations, as its erstwhile observations to blacklist the three individuals from any academic-related work have caused major doubts on their credibility.

He further submitted that these academicians are experts in the field of pedagogy and even in textbooks of other Classes, below the eighth standards, academicians have inculcated subjects on issues faced by institutions aside from the judiciary.