Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government has directed all government and recognised private schools and coaching centres in the Kashmir division to review books on their premises for “inappropriate or objectionable content”, an official order issued on Monday said.
The directive requires heads of institutions to examine books in libraries, classrooms, staff rooms and offices, both newly acquired and older titles, and certify to their respective Chief Education Officers (CEOs) or Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) that no material deemed objectionable is present on campus. Any identified titles must be reported within seven days with details including title, author, publisher, year of publication and number of copies. CEOs are to monitor compliance and submit consolidated reports to the Director of School Education by July 19.
The order defines objectionable content to include material that may violate religious sentiments, be inappropriate for students, contravene prevailing laws or affect national interest, educational values or established norms.
The move follows a protest by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the procurement of certain books for government school libraries, which the party described as part of an “academic jihad” campaign. Two titles — “Personalities and Legends of J&K” by Hilal Ahmed and Santosh Meena, and “Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir” by Dr Sushant Giri — were withdrawn from higher secondary school libraries under the Samagra Shiksha programme. Eight officials were suspended and a contractual employee was terminated in connection with the controversy. Police also searched the premises of a publisher linked to one of the books and registered an FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Critics, including political leaders and academics, have accused the administration of suppressing history and narrowing academic freedom. National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi called the directive “deeply troubling”, arguing that libraries should preserve knowledge rather than curate political narratives, and warned against erasing perspectives that form part of the region’s history.
Observers noted the latest directive comes amid a wider clampdown on publications in Jammu and Kashmir. In August, the Home Department banned 25 books by several academics, historians, journalists and writers and ordered their seizure under Section 98 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, a move that drew criticism from authors who said it amounted to curbing alternative viewpoints.
The Directorate of School Education did not immediately respond to requests for comment.