New Delhi, Feb 24 — The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has, for the first time, introduced a section on “corruption in the judiciary” in its revised Class 8 Social Science textbook, broadening the scope of civics education beyond court structures to include systemic challenges.
The updated chapter, The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society, documents the scale of pending litigation across courts and outlines mechanisms meant to ensure accountability within the judicial system. It notes that about 81,000 cases are pending before the Supreme Court, 62.4 lakh in High Courts, and nearly 4.7 crore in district and subordinate courts.
On corruption, the textbook states that judges are governed by a code of conduct covering both professional and personal behaviour, and points to internal processes for handling complaints, including submissions through the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS). According to the text, more than 1,600 complaints were received via this route between 2017 and 2021.
The chapter also explains the constitutional process for removing judges in serious cases. “In cases where the allegations are serious, Parliament can take action and remove a judge by passing a motion of impeachment. Such a motion is considered only after a proper inquiry, during which the judge is given a fair opportunity to present their side of the case,” the book says.
At the same time, it records public concerns around integrity in the justice system. “Nevertheless, people do experience corruption at various levels of the judiciary. For the poor and the disadvantaged, this can worsen the issue of access to justice,” the chapter notes, adding that governments are pursuing measures—such as technology-driven reforms and prompt action—to strengthen transparency and trust.
The textbook cites former Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, who said in July 2025 that corruption and misconduct within the judiciary undermine public confidence. “However, the path to rebuilding this trust lies in the swift, decisive and transparent action taken to address and resolve these issues… Transparency and accountability are democratic virtues,” he said, as quoted in the book.