NEW DELHI, July 11 -- Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has ordered a probe and sought action against the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) officials for failing to appear before the Delhi High Court on June 24 to defend its June 22 order to blacklist a paper supplier for delaying textbook production, Union education ministry officials familiar with the development said on Friday. The lapse by NCERT resulted in interim relief for the company which had challenged the council's order. The matter will next be heard on July 20. A ministry spokesperson did not explain why NCERT failed to appear before the court or identify the officials responsible for the lapse. The ministry has asked NCERT to examine multiple aspects of the case, including how the Pune-based Bafna Global Venture Private Limited got the contract of printing Maplitho Paper supply for 2026-27 despite allegedly not meeting tender conditions, and why no representative appeared before the Delhi High Court to defend the council's June 22 decision, officials said. The council had ordered termination of contract, and directed invocation of a Rs.6.09 crore bank guarantee furnished by the company. Bafna Global Venture Pvt Ltd challenged the order in the Delhi High Court on June 24. However, when no one appeared on NCERT's behalf, the court directed that no coercive action be taken against the company until July 20 and restrained NCERT from invoking the bank guarantee. "Taking serious note of reports that NCERT failed to defend its decision..., Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has directed strict action against the officers responsible for the lapse," an official....