Scholar Asserts Supreme Court Misinformed on NCERT Textbook Controversy

Michel Danino, a key academic in the controversy surrounding an NCERT textbook chapter, stated the Supreme Court was unaware of critical context when it issued a lifetime ban on May 11. He highlighted that their work aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, which was overlooked by the court.

Danino, along with fellow academics Suparna Diwakar and Alok Prasanna Kumar, faced the ban over an alleged negative portrayal of the judiciary in a Class 8 textbook. With the order now modified, Danino stressed the need for educational institutions to proceed without fear of repercussions, expressing confidence in a full clearance once the court hears their side.

He critiqued how NCERT supplied their names without explaining the comprehensive framework guiding their work, resulting in limited understanding by the court. He also remarked on the surprising nature of the ex parte order.

(With inputs from agencies.)