news details |
|
|
| Books glorifying terrorists, separatists banned; 8 officials suspended high-level probe ordered | | How did these books reach schools? Why did experts clear controversial content? | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, July 4: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Saturday banned two controversial books from government schools, suspended eight officials of the School Education Department, and ordered a high-level inquiry after the publications were found to contain what the administration described as "highly inappropriate" and "separatism-related" content.
The government also blacklisted the authors and publishers of the two books and directed that all material authored or published by them be withdrawn from educational institutions across the Union Territory.
The action came a day after the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples' Forum (JKPF) flagged the issue, alleging that books supplied to government school libraries under the Samagra Shiksha scheme glorified separatist leaders and even a convicted terrorist by portraying them as "great personalities" and "legends" of Jammu and Kashmir.
Among the most contentious aspects of the publications was the reference to convicted terrorist Maqbool Bhat as "Shaheed", while several separatist leaders, including Masarat Alam, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and jailed separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, were featured under the titles "Great Personalities" and "Legends" of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ironically, the books were procured using public funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme and had been approved by an expert committee constituted by the School Education Department before being supplied to government schools.
The controversy intensified after Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma raised the matter at a press conference on Saturday, accusing the government of allowing an "anti-national narrative" to enter school libraries. He demanded an immediate withdrawal of the books, a high-level probe into the entire procurement process, stringent action against those responsible, and the dismissal of the Education Minister.
Responding swiftly, Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma confirmed that both publications had been withdrawn from all government schools with immediate effect.
"The books have been withdrawn. Action is being taken against all concerned," Sharma said.
He stated that all copies had been recalled from schools and proceedings had been initiated against officials involved in the publication's approval, procurement, recommendation and distribution.
According to Sharma, the controversial books were supplied to schools in June this year and were formally withdrawn on July 3 following the emergence of the controversy.
The government's action comes amid widespread criticism from political parties and civil society organisations, which alleged that the books promoted objectionable and anti-national content and questioned how such publications were approved for government school libraries.
In a separate order, the School Education Department suspended eight officials for alleged negligence and lack of due diligence in selecting and recommending the two books for government school libraries.
The suspended officials include Coordinator Library Fazil Imran Saddiqui, Assistant Coordinator Gurjeet Singh, Principal of Government Higher Secondary School Kore Pannu Sanjeev Sharma, SCERT Jammu Academic Officer Shazia Kouser, Lecturers Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir, Niranjan Sharma, Renu Mengi and Rajmohini.
The department also terminated the services of contractual Computer Assistant Sheikh Suheel Ahmad, who had been assisting the Coordinator Library.
According to the government order, the books—"Personalities and Legends of J&K", authored by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena and published by Oberoi Book Service, Jammu, and "Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir", authored by Sushant Giri and published by Anurag Prakashan, Delhi—were selected for procurement under the Samagra Shiksha library scheme.
Official records reveal that 123 copies of Personalities and Legends of J&K were distributed to government schools in Jammu, Ramban and Udhampur districts, while 128 copies of Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir were supplied to schools in Jammu and Baramulla districts before both publications were withdrawn.
The department observed that the books contained material relating to separatism with the potential to create law and order problems, holding members of the Series-IV Expert Sub-Committee and supervisory officers responsible for serious procedural lapses in their selection and approval.
To investigate the matter, the government has appointed Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Power Development Department, Ashwani Kumar, as the Inquiry Officer, while Additional Secretary, General Administration Department, Rohit Sharma, has been designated as the Presenting Officer. The inquiry officer has been directed to submit his report within 30 days.
The government further ordered that the authors and publishers of both books be banned and blacklisted across the Union Territory and directed that all printed material authored or published by them be immediately withdrawn from educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
