By Tehelka Web Desk
The Jammu and Kashmir government has directed all schools and coaching centres across the Union Territory to screen books in their libraries and staff rooms for “inappropriate or objectionable” content and submit compliance reports within a week.
The order follows the suspension of eight School Education Department officials after two books supplied to government schools were found to contain material that authorities said promoted separatism and had the “potential for creating law and order situations.” The suspended officials were part of a committee responsible for selecting library books under the Samagra Shiksha scheme.
The books in question are Personalities and Legends of J&K by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena, and Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir by Sushant Giri. They were distributed to government schools in Jammu, Ramban, Udhampur and Baramulla districts.
The government has also appointed an inquiry officer to investigate the matter and directed that the authors and publishers of the two books be banned and blacklisted in the Union Territory. The order states: “Any printed material authored and/or published by them shall also be withdrawn from the Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.”
In a circular, the Directorate of School Education Kashmir instructed all heads of institutions to certify that library books have been reviewed, that no objectionable material remains, and that collections comply with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and other applicable laws.
Schools have been asked to submit compliance reports within seven days. The circular warns, “Any lapse in compliance with these instructions shall be viewed seriously and will invite appropriate disciplinary action against the defaulting officer(s) under the applicable rules.”
Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma, alleged that one of the books described the region as “Indian-occupied Kashmir” and praised Hafiz Saeed. “Such a book is objectionable and controversial. It must be banned immediately,” he said.
The issue has triggered political reactions, with BJP leaders demanding strict action. BJP leader Altaf Thakur questioned the inclusion of separatist figures in the books, saying, “These are the very terrorists who shook Kashmir to its core and engaged in bloodshed for 30 years, yet you label them as martyrs.”
