Srinagar, Sep 22: Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department has examined more than 21.81 lakh books and publications in Government Degree Colleges across the Union Territory as part of a comprehensive academic and content audit, with 518 copies of 19 banned titles withdrawn from circulation.
The details were provided by the government in reply to a starred question raised by MLA Langate Khurshed Ahmad Sheikh during the ongoing session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
According to the reply, 9,32,941 books/publications were examined in the Jammu division and 12,48,641 in the Kashmir division, taking the total number of examined books to 21,81,582.
“Fourty copies covering eight titles in Jammu and 478 copies covering 18 titles in Kashmir, totalling 518 copies across 19 titles, were withdrawn from circulation under S.O. 203 dated August 5, 2025, relating to banned books,” the reply reads. “Besides these, 3,996 books in Jammu and 4,249 in Kashmir, or 8,245 books in total, were withdrawn from circulation under categories other than the banned books.”
The reply further states that the scrutiny has also resulted in 1,752 books being referred for expert examination—538 from Jammu and 1,214 from Kashmir. “In his question, Sheikh had sought details on whether the government had adopted clear and objective criteria for identifying objectionable material in college and other libraries under Circular No. 02-JK(HE) of 2026 dated July 9, 2026,” it states.
He had also sought details of all material categorised or notified as objectionable, including titles, authors, subjects and number of copies withdrawn, removed or prohibited, along with safeguards for academic freedom, intellectual diversity and critical inquiry.
The government replied that clear and objective criteria had been adopted, with the details contained in the July 9 circular. However, it said the scrutiny process was still underway, describing it as a “laborious exercise” that could take more time. The department said the figures supplied represented the books and material scrutinised as on date in Government Degree Colleges.
The July circular establishes a three-tier Academic and Content Scrutiny Mechanism covering college, directorate and administrative levels. At the first level, every college is required to have a College Academic and Content Scrutiny Committee, headed by the Principal, with the Librarian as Member Secretary and senior faculty members from Arts, Social Sciences and Language/Literature departments.
“The committees have been tasked with examining library holdings for academic relevance, factual authenticity, pedagogical suitability, constitutional conformity and legal permissibility. They can recommend retention, withdrawal, replacement or further expert examination of publications,” the reply reads. “At the second level, the Directorate Academic Review and Verification Committee, under the Director Colleges, is responsible for scrutinising college audit reports, conducting random and sample-based verification and constituting expert panels where specialised examination is required.”
The reply states that a Departmental Review Committee, headed by the Administrative Secretary, Higher Education Department, constitutes the third tier and is mandated to review consolidated reports, monitor compliance and examine cases involving serious academic, legal or administrative implications.
“The circular directs institutions to scrutinise books, journals, supplementary reading material, reference books, periodicals, digital resources and other educational material,” the reply reads. It says educational material should be academically relevant, factually accurate, curriculum-compatible and supportive of constitutional values, responsible citizenship, scientific temper and national integration.
“Material deemed to contain objectionable, misleading, distorted, inflammatory or unlawful content—including content promoting or glorifying terrorism, violent extremism, secessionism or radicalisation—is liable to be withdrawn from circulation and placed in safe custody pending further orders,” it states.
The government has also made Principals and other authorities responsible for compliance, with the circular providing for administrative or disciplinary action in cases of negligence, procedural irregularities, suppression of material facts or failure to follow prescribed procedures. From 2026 onwards, the department has directed that the academic and content audit be conducted annually, creating a continuing system for review of library holdings in higher education institutions.
