The Indian Institute of Technology‑Gandhinagar (IIT‑Gandhinagar) has initiated a review of Professor Michel Danino’s association as a guest professor after the Supreme Court of India directed that the Centre, states and publicly funded institutions dissociate from him and two other curriculum contributors amid the NCERT textbook controversy This step comes in the wake of a contentious chapter on judicial corruption included in a Social Science Class 8 textbook published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The chapter was later withdrawn after widespread criticism and a court challenge.
Supreme Court Directive and Background of the Controversy
The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, expressed deep concern over the inclusion of content in the textbook that addressed corruption in the Indian judiciary. The bench noted that the chapter was objectionable and directed that Professor Danino and his associates, Suparna Diwakar and Alok Prasanna Kumar, should be disassociated from any curriculum development or textbook work funded by public institutions. The court also ordered that none of the three experts should be retained on publicly funded projects related to educational content until further notice. They noted that the textbook’s publication process lacked proper oversight and formal approvals.
IIT‑Gandhinagar Review Process
In compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive, a standing committee at IIT‑Gandhinagar will examine Professor Danino’s appointment and role as a guest professor at the institute. A senior official indicated that a decision regarding his association will be taken after the committee’s review. Danino has been associated with IIT‑Gandhinagar in this role since 2011 .Professor Danino, a Padma Shri awardee, has previously been involved with NCERT textbook development and was part of the curricular area group in social sciences.
Broader Textbook Revisions Following Court Orders
Alongside the directive concerning Professor Danino’s role, the Supreme Court asked the Centre to form an expert panel to review the NCERT curriculum and ensure that inappropriate content is not published again. The bench recommended including a former judge, a recognised academician and a senior legal practitioner in the review panel. The Centre also informed the court that the NCERT has begun reviewing textbooks across classes as part of systemic reforms. Mehta, representing the government, assured that nothing would be published without scrutiny by domain experts.
Reaction and Next Steps
There has been no official response from Danino, Diwakar or Kumar to media queries seeking comments on the matter .The developments have sparked debate on academic freedom, curriculum review processes and institutional accountability in educational content. The NCERT has already withdrawn the controversial textbook and issued a public apology, while wider reviews of curriculum procedures are underway to prevent recurrence of similar issues.