The Jammu and Kashmir government has removed two books from government schools' libraries after claiming that they had "highly inappropriate content" related to separatism. The eight officials of the School Education Department have been suspended, one contractual worker has been fired and a high-level inquiry has been ordered.
J&K Government Removes Two Books from School Libraries
The School Education Department, Civil Secretariat, Jammu and Kashmir issued an official order for the procurement of books for government school libraries under the Samagra Shiksha library grant for 18,328 government schools and 394 PM SHRI schools.
The department invited expressions of interest (EOIs) and received 463 books from 364 publishers, which were considered under four sub-committees for primary, upper primary, secondary and higher secondary levels.
On July 3, 2026, two books were withdrawn by the government, those books are:
- Personalities and Legends of J&K by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena, Oberoi Book Service, Jammu.
- Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir is a book written by Dr. Sushant Giri and published by Anurag Prakashan, Delhi.
Government Says Books Contained 'Highly Inappropriate Content'
The official order said the books featured "highly inappropriate content" that was "related to separatism. It also said that the members of the Sub-Committee Series 4 and supervisory officers had shown "serious negligence, dereliction of duty and lack of proper due diligence" in recommending the books, which had the "potential for creating law and order situations.
Eight officials have been suspended and one contractual employee has been terminated.Eight officials have been suspended and one contractual employee has been fired.
After the event, eight permanent officers of the School Education Department were suspended and one contractual employee's services were terminated.
The following officials have been suspended:
- Fazil Imran Saddiqui
- Gurjeet Singh
- Sanjeev Sharma
- Shazia Kouser
- Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir
- Niranjan Sharma
- Renu Mengi
- Rajmohini
The order says that the suspended officials will be attached to the Administrative Department (School Education Department) for the duration of the suspension.
Copies Already Distributed to Schools
The government said that 123 copies of Personalities and Legends of J&K were already distributed to schools in Jammu, Ramban and Udhampur districts. It also said that 128 copies of Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir were provided to schools in Jammu and Baramulla districts before the books were pulled.
High-Level Inquiry Ordered
The government of Jammu and Kashmir has set up a high-level inquiry under the chairmanship of Financial Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Ashwani Kumar. The committee is tasked with providing a report within 30 days of the order, the committee has been given.
The authors and publishers of these books were blacklisted
The government has also banned and blacklisted the authors and publishers of both the books in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The official order also says that all printed material written or published by them will also be withdrawn from the Union Territory.
J&K Government Suspends 8 Officials, Withdraws School Library Books Over Alleged Separatist Content
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