Education – J&K Orders Territory-Wide Review of School Library Material
Education – The Jammu and Kashmir administration has launched a broad review of educational institutions following allegations that two books approved for government school libraries contained material glorifying militancy and separatism. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has directed authorities to conduct audits and inspections across the Union Territory to identify and remove objectionable publications from schools, colleges, universities and libraries.
Inquiry and disciplinary action initiated
The administration has already begun an inquiry into how the books were selected and circulated. Eight officials from the Education Department have been suspended over alleged negligence, while the authors and publishers linked to the books have been barred and blacklisted in Jammu and Kashmir.
Printed material associated with the authors and publishers has also been withdrawn from institutions across the Union Territory. The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Counter Intelligence wing has registered a case and carried out searches in connection with the matter.
Books under scrutiny
The controversy centres on “Personalities and Legends of J&K,” written by Dr Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena and published by Jammu-based Oberoi Book Service, along with “Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir,” written by Dr Suhant Giri and published by Delhi-based Aurora Prakashan.
According to officials, the books included chapters on several separatist figures, including Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, who was executed in Tihar Jail in 1984. The publications also reportedly mentioned jailed separatist leader Masarat Alam, slain leader Abdul Gani Lone, late separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
Authorities have further objected to references in the books describing Jammu and Kashmir as “Indian Held Kashmir” and “Indian Occupied Kashmir.”
Audit to cover physical and digital collections
At a high-level meeting, Sinha reviewed the action taken so far and instructed departments to establish safeguards against the purchase, distribution or availability of literature considered anti-national, separatist or otherwise objectionable.
Heads of schools, colleges, universities and libraries will be required to confirm within a fixed period whether such material is available in their institutions. The process will include inspections and detailed audits of physical collections.
The Lieutenant Governor also asked authorities to examine websites, online archives and digital repositories maintained by universities and higher education institutions. Any material found to be objectionable is to be removed without delay.
New procedure planned for book procurement
The administration has been asked to prepare a standard operating procedure for selecting books and academic resources for educational institutions. The proposed framework is expected to introduce stronger screening before books are purchased or distributed.
It will also provide for periodic random checks by panels made up of educationists, intellectuals and senior officials. The purpose, officials said, is to ensure that material promoting separatist narratives does not enter classrooms or libraries.
Sinha said institutional heads would be held accountable for failures in monitoring library material. He stressed that educational spaces should promote learning, constitutional values, scientific thinking, national integration and balanced historical understanding.
Fresh verification committees formed
Separate committees have been reconstituted for the Jammu and Kashmir regions to verify books procured under the Library Component for the 2025-26 academic year. The panels will review books supplied by different publishers and check whether their content meets the administration’s stated standards.
Officials have been instructed to ensure that the books contain no objectionable material and support constitutional principles, national unity, scientific temper and balanced perspectives on history.
Police case and political response
The Counter Intelligence Kashmir wing has registered an FIR under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to abetment, criminal conspiracy, threats to India’s sovereignty and integrity, promoting disharmony, and circulation of false statements. Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has also been invoked.
Political parties, including the National Conference, Congress and BJP, have criticised the inclusion of the disputed material in school library books. They have called for a thorough investigation and action against those found responsible.