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After terror-glorification book found in Pol Sc Deptt, JU orders seven-day library review

Early Times Report

Jammu, July 7: The University of Jammu has ordered a comprehensive review of books and publications across all its departments after the controversial book Personalities and Legends of J&K, recently banned by the Jammu and Kashmir Government for allegedly glorifying terrorists and separatist leaders, was found in the library of its Department of Political Science.
The University has directed all teaching departments, centres, and libraries to complete the exercise within seven days and certify that no publication prejudicial to India's sovereignty, integrity, security or national interest is retained in their collections.
The move comes days after the Jammu and Kashmir Government banned the book and suspended eight School Education Department officials over its recommendation for government schools. The discovery of the same publication in the University of Jammu's Department of Political Science has triggered a fresh controversy and renewed demands for an inquiry into how the book was procured.
According to official records, the Department of Political Science purchased the book in 2021 without the approval of the expert committee, prompting the University administration to initiate a campus-wide audit of library collections.
"It is circulated for the information of all concerned that the collections and books in the University of Jammu be carefully curated to include scholarly publications representing diverse disciplines to facilitate higher education, teaching and research, with the sole objective that no book, publication or reading material intended to promote, encourage or support any activity prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity, security and national interest of India be kept in any library or departmental collection of the University," an order issued by the Registrar of the University of Jammu stated.
The order further directed all Rectors, Directors, Heads of Teaching Departments and the In-charge Librarian of Dhanvantri Library to undertake an immediate and comprehensive review of their respective collections and submit a signed undertaking certifying that no such material is available in their libraries or departmental collections.
The circular said the entire exercise must be completed on a priority basis within seven days.
As reported earlier, the book, which allegedly glorifies convicted terrorists and separatist leaders, was not only procured by the School Education Department but was also purchased by the University's Department of Political Science in 2021.
The department has courted controversy on earlier occasions as well, including over the introduction of academic topics related to Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah and philosopher-poet Muhammad Iqbal.
The issue resurfaced after the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples' Forum claimed that the banned publication continued to remain available in the Department of Political Science library under Accession Number DL477237.