New Delhi: The Union Education Ministry has ordered an inquiry and sought action against officials of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) after they allegedly failed to appear before the Delhi High Court despite being summoned in a case involving the blacklisting of a paper supplier.
The matter relates to Bafna Global Venture Private Limited, a Mumbai-based company that supplies paper for printing NCERT textbooks. The company approached the Delhi High Court on June 24, challenging an order issued by NCERT on June 22 that barred it from participating in the council’s tendering process for two years.
According to NCERT, the company failed to supply paper within the agreed timeline, resulting in delays in the printing of textbooks for the current academic session. The council cited the alleged breach of contractual obligations as the basis for its blacklisting decision.
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An Education Ministry spokesperson confirmed that the ministry has initiated action over the officials’ alleged failure to appear before the court. In a statement, the spokesperson said the move reinforces the ministry’s “zero-tolerance approach towards administrative and legal lapses.”
Sources familiar with the matter said no NCERT representative appeared during the court hearing despite the summons, prompting the ministry to examine the circumstances and consider appropriate administrative and legal action against the officials concerned.
During the proceedings, the Delhi High Court also restrained NCERT from invoking the company’s ₹6 crore bank guarantee pending further consideration of the dispute. The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for July 20.
According to reports, the company has argued that disruptions arising from the West Asia crisis led to a shortage of hydrogen peroxide, an essential chemical used in paper manufacturing, affecting its ability to meet contractual delivery timelines.
The dispute comes amid concerns over delays in the availability of certain revised NCERT textbooks. Reports indicate that a few upgraded Class VIII and Class IX textbooks were released later than scheduled during the current academic year, although NCERT has not officially disclosed detailed reasons for the delay.
The controversy follows another significant issue involving NCERT earlier this year, when the Supreme Court halted the circulation of a Class VIII Social Science Part-II textbook containing a controversial chapter on the judiciary. NCERT subsequently revised the textbook and released a new edition after removing the disputed content.
According to the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF), public procurement disputes involving educational institutions underscore the importance of transparent contract management, timely legal compliance, proper documentation, and effective judicial representation. Strengthening procurement oversight and ensuring accountability in contractual and legal proceedings can help reduce administrative disputes and safeguard public interest.
The matter is currently pending before the Delhi High Court. The Education Ministry’s inquiry into the conduct of NCERT officials is expected to proceed alongside the ongoing judicial proceedings.
