HC directs CBSE to delete paragraphs showing leaders in bad light

New Delhi, Feb 2 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today said the leaders and freedom fighters should not be shown in a derogatory light in the school text books.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice M K Sharma and Justice Hima Kohli said the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and Central Board of Secondary Education(CBSE) should prepare a curriculum which should not pass derogatory remarks on any freedom fighter or any community.

''The aim to impart education to the children is to make them good citizens so that they live in our country peacefully and harmoniously,'' observed the Court.

The court had directed earlier not to set questions on the contents which had objectionable remarks on Indian leaders, community and historical incidents in the History and Social Science books of secondary classes.

In an application, the NCERT had appealed to the High Court to withdraw its directives not to set questions in schools board examinations on certain objectionable paragraphs in the Indian History books.

The Court had asked both the CBSE and NCERT to delete the passages as they were hurting the sentiments of the people.

In a lengthy order, the Judges had said, ''In our considered opinion curriculum should be aimed to give positive education and the 20 objectionable passages should be taken out by the NCERT text books from next session starting from April 1, 2007.'' The Arya Mahasabha and Brahman Samaj, in a petition, had sought the direction of the court for deletion of 75 objectionable items from the History book saying it had bad impact on the young students.

Some of the items stated that the Aryans, including the 'Brahmins', were beef eaters in the ancient days.

''Cows are worshipped by the Aryans and Hindus since the Vedic period and nobody should be allowed to distort the facts,'' said the Arya Mahasabha.

UNI