The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has issued notice to the Union government and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on a public interest petition seeking correction of an alleged incorrect depiction of the swastika symbol in a Class 9 history textbook.
The petition, filed by Mahalingam Balaji of Koothanur in Thanjavur district, said Adolf Hitler used the Nazi party emblem known as the “Hakenkreuz” (hooked cross), which is banned in parts of Europe and the United States. He contended that the swastika, however, is a sacred religious symbol for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains, signifying positivity, peace and auspiciousness.
According to the petitioner, the NCERT Class 9 history text, under the Union education ministry, has placed the swastika symbol in a context where the Nazi emblem should have been used. He argued that this could create a biased and incorrect perception among students and violates constitutional principles relating to equality and freedom of religion.
The plea sought directions to revise the textbook to clearly explain the difference between the swastika and the Nazi-era symbol, and to use the correct German term “Hakenkreuz” for the Nazi emblem, along with an explanation that it is distinct from the swastika.
A bench comprising Justices N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothiraman ordered notice to the Secretary, Department of School Education, and the NCERT Director, and adjourned the matter to July 13.
