Srinagar, July 7: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday ordered a comprehensive audit of universities, colleges, schools and libraries 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 place in educational institutions.
Chairing a high-level meeting here, Sinha reviewed the action taken after the recovery of the literature and instructed officials to put in place a robust mechanism to prevent the procurement, circulation or availability of books, journals, magazines and other publications carrying anti-national, separatist or objectionable content in both government and private educational institutions.
In one of the strongest directives issued on the issue, the Lieutenant Governor ordered all educational institutions to undertake a comprehensive audit and inspection of their libraries and academic resources. Heads of institutions will also be required to certify within a stipulated timeframe that no such material is available on their campuses.
Officials informed the meeting that books allegedly glorifying separatism had been recovered and said those responsible for procuring, approving or circulating the material would face strict legal action.
The Lieutenant Governor also directed authorities to examine the websites and digital repositories of universities and higher educational institutions and immediately remove any objectionable content, if found.
To prevent similar incidents in future, Sinha ordered the formulation of a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) governing the procurement of books and academic material for educational institutions across Jammu and Kashmir.
The proposed SOP will include a multi-layer screening mechanism 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.
Warning against any laxity, the Lieutenant Governor said accountability would be fixed in every case of violation, making it clear that the head of the concerned institution would be held personally responsible for any lapse.
Emphasising the role of educational institutions in shaping future generations, Sinha said schools, colleges and universities must remain centres of learning, constitutional values and nation-building, adding that there would be zero tolerance for any attempt to mislead or radicalise students through objectionable literature.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Principal Secretary Home Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor Mandeep K. Bhandari, Additional Director, Intelligence Bureau Pankaj Thakur, ADGP CID Nitish Kumar, Commissioner Secretary School Education Ram Niwas Sharma and other senior officials.
This marks one of the administration’s most sweeping interventions in the education sector in recent years, with the government expanding its scrutiny beyond physical libraries to digital academic repositories while introducing institutional accountability for the procurement and circulation of educational material.
