The All India Bar Association has written to Narendra Modi seeking a thorough and transparent inquiry into the inclusion of a chapter on alleged corruption in the judiciary in the Class VIII syllabus, calling the content objectionable and potentially harmful to the credibility of the justice system.
In a detailed communication, Dr. Adish C. Aggarwala, Chairman of the Association and former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, recorded the Bar’s appreciation for the Prime Minister’s reported condemnation of the chapter. He described the Prime Minister’s position as statesmanlike and in keeping with the government’s stated commitment to preserving the independence and dignity of the judiciary.
The Association expressed concern that the inclusion of such material could have far-reaching consequences. According to the letter, the chapter contains generalised and unsubstantiated allegations that may influence impressionable students and erode public confidence in the judiciary.
The Bar body stated that introducing sweeping claims about corruption in the judiciary at the school level risks undermining faith in one of the foundational pillars of India’s constitutional democracy. It cautioned that such content could create an avoidable divide between the Executive and the Judiciary, disturbing the constitutional balance.
Seeking accountability, the Association urged the government to order a comprehensive inquiry into how the chapter was conceptualised, drafted and approved. It also called for the identification of individuals or groups responsible for the inclusion of the material and for an examination of any possible vested interests behind the move.
The letter emphasised that safeguarding the credibility, independence and institutional integrity of the judiciary is a collective responsibility. The Association reaffirmed its commitment to cooperate with any corrective or investigative steps the government may undertake.
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