Srinagar, July 7: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday ordered a comprehensive audit of all educational institutions across the Union Territory following the recovery of books allegedly containing “anti-national and separatist” content, with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha directing authorities to ensure that no such material finds a place in schools, colleges, or universities.
Chairing a high-level review meeting here, LG Sinha instructed officials to put in place a robust mechanism to prevent the procurement, circulation, or availability of books, journals, magazines, and other publications carrying objectionable content in both government and private institutions.
Official sources told Kashmir Convener that a “multi-layer screening mechanism” is being planned, with periodic random scrutiny of books and publications by a panel comprising eminent educationists, intellectuals, and senior government officers before they are introduced into educational institutions.
In one of the strongest directives issued on the issue, the LG ordered heads of all institutions to undertake a comprehensive inspection of their libraries and academic resources and to certify within a stipulated timeframe that no such material is available on their campuses.
The LG also directed authorities to examine the websites and digital repositories of universities and higher educational institutions and to immediately remove any objectionable content, if found. The government is now expanding its scrutiny beyond physical libraries to digital academic repositories.
Warning against any laxity, LG Sinha made it clear that the head of the concerned institution would be held personally responsible for any lapse. “Schools, colleges, and universities must remain centres of learning, constitutional values, and nation-building,” he said, adding that there would be “zero tolerance” for any attempt to mislead or radicalise students through objectionable literature.
Sources said those responsible for procuring, approving, or circulating the material would face strict legal action. The administration has also ordered the formulation of a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) governing the procurement of books and academic material across J&K.
This marks one of the administration’s most sweeping interventions in the education sector in recent years, introducing institutional accountability for the procurement and circulation of educational material across the Union Territory.
Notably, earlier this week, the Jammu and Kashmir government suspended eight officials of the School Education Department and ordered a high-level inquiry after two books procured for government school libraries were found to contain “highly inappropriate” content.
The government said the books contained material related to separatism, which had the potential to create law and order concerns.
The officials placed under suspension include Fazil Imran Saddiqui (Coordinator Library, Samagra Shiksha), Gurjeet Singh (Assistant Coordinator), Sanjeev Sharma (Principal, GHSS Kore Pannu, Kathua), Shazia Kouser (Academic Officer, SCERT Jammu), Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir (Lecturer, BHSS Wathoora Budgam), Niranjan Sharma (Lecturer, GHSS Badhat Kishtwar), Renu Mengi (Lecturer, DIET Jammu), and Rajmohini (Lecturer, GGHSS Poonch).
During the suspension period, they will remain attached to the Administrative Department of the School Education Department.
Meanwhile, in this regard, Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Sakeena Itoo also ordered a time-bound inquiry into the controversial book, even as she asserted that a “deliberate conspiracy” was at play and promised strict action, including termination of employees and a permanent ban on the publisher.
The minister said the report emerging from the inquiry would determine action against those found guilty. “This cannot be tolerated. The way this conspiracy has been deliberately created, this will not be tolerated, and there will be strict action against them,” she said.
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