NCERT Class 8 Book Exposes Judicial Corruption and Massive Case Backlog

The new NCERT Class 8 Social Science book clearly talks about corruption at different levels in the judiciary and the huge delay in court cases across India. It explains that lakhs and crores of cases are still pending in courts, and students must understand these problems to know how the justice system really works. The chapter openly discusses judicial corruption, shortage of judges, and weak infrastructure as serious challenges.

What The New Chapter Actually Says

The new textbook released by the National Council of Educational Research and Training includes a chapter titled The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society. In this chapter, corruption at various levels has been mentioned as one of the key issues affecting courts in India.

It does not hide the problem. Instead, it explains how corruption and misconduct hurt public trust. It also tells students that understanding these issues is important if they want to understand how justice is delivered in such a large and diverse country.

The tone is educational, not sensational. It focuses on awareness.

Shocking Number Of Pending Cases

The chapter shares real numbers, and they are honestly quite worrying. The Supreme Court of India has around 81,000 cases pending. High Courts together have nearly 62,40,000 unresolved cases. District and subordinate courts have close to 4,70,00,000 pending cases.

These numbers show how serious the delay problem is. Justice delayed often feels like justice denied. Many families wait years, sometimes decades.

For a Class 8 student, reading these figures can be eye-opening.

Why So Many Delays Happen

The book explains that one big reason is the shortage of judges. There simply are not enough judges compared to the number of cases being filed daily. Courts are overloaded.

Another reason is complex legal procedures. The process can be slow and technical. Infrastructure is also not always adequate. Some courts lack proper facilities, staff, or digital systems.

All these factors together create a system where cases move slowly.

Judicial Corruption And Accountability

The chapter talks about corruption as a structural challenge. It does not accuse individuals directly but highlights the existence of complaints and misconduct issues.

Between 2017 and 2021, more than 1,600 complaints related to the judiciary were received through the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System. This shows that people do raise concerns.

The book also explains that judges follow a code of conduct. There are internal mechanisms within the judiciary to maintain discipline and accountability. Citizens can file grievances through official systems.

So while problems exist, there are also systems to address them.

What Former CJI B R Gavai Said

The textbook quotes former Chief Justice of India B R Gavai. He said that corruption and misconduct damage public confidence in the judiciary. However, he also added that trust can be rebuilt through swift, transparent, and decisive action.

He emphasized that transparency and accountability are democratic virtues. That message is strong. It tells students that reform and responsibility go hand in hand.

Why This Matters For Students

Some people may wonder why such topics are included in a Class 8 book. But the aim seems clear. Students should not grow up with half knowledge. They should understand both strengths and weaknesses of institutions.

Learning about corruption, delays, and reforms does not weaken democracy. It can actually make young citizens more aware and responsible.

When students know how courts function, and what challenges exist, they are better prepared to demand fairness in future.

A Bold But Important Step

Including judicial corruption and case backlog in a school textbook is a bold move. It opens discussion. It encourages critical thinking.

At the same time, the chapter does not dismiss the judiciary. It explains its importance and also its problems. That balance is important.

India’s judicial system is powerful, but it is also under pressure. If young minds understand this early, maybe change will come faster than we expect.