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New Delhi: On Wednesday, the Supreme Court instructed the Central Government to form a committee of experts within a week to revise the legal studies curriculum in NCERT textbooks.

The court clarified that its directive was not meant to stifle constructive criticism of the judiciary's functions.

While addressing a suo motu case regarding the Class VIII social science textbook, which included controversial content about judicial corruption, the court noted that the chapter was created by a team led by Professor Michel Danino.

Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, ordered the immediate disassociation of the three experts involved in drafting the contentious chapter.

The team, chaired by Danino, included members Suparna Diwakar and Alok Prasanna Kumar.

The court mentioned that these experts could appeal for a modification of the order.

The newly formed expert panel will consist of a former judge, an academic, and a distinguished legal practitioner, with the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal also being involved in the curriculum finalization.

During the proceedings, the Centre informed the court that it had instructed NCERT to review textbooks across all grades. The court expressed a preference for an expert committee to handle the review instead.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that the government is initiating systemic changes and that no material will be published without expert approval.

He also mentioned that the NCERT director has submitted an unconditional apology.

On February 26, the Supreme Court had imposed a total ban on the publication, reprinting, or digital distribution of the Class 8 social science book due to its problematic content regarding judicial corruption, stating that the judiciary is 'bleeding' from this issue.

The court observed signs of a 'deep-rooted conspiracy' aimed at undermining the judiciary's integrity and ordered the immediate seizure of all copies of the book from circulation.