Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has suspended eight officials of the School Education Department, ordered a high-level inquiry, disengaged a contractual employee and blacklisted two publishers after books supplied to government school libraries were found to contain what the administration described as “highly inappropriate content” related to separatism.
The action follows objections raised by the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Forum (JKPF), which had demanded the immediate withdrawal of the books and strict action against the officials and expert committee responsible for approving them for school libraries.
In a detailed brief note, the JKPF alleged that one of the books glorified convicted terrorist Maqbool Bhat by referring to him as a “Shaheed”, described India as an “occupying state”, used the expression “Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK)”, and carried profiles and references relating to several separatist leaders that the forum described as anti-national. The forum also questioned how such books were declared “age-appropriate” and recommended for school libraries under the Samagra Shiksha scheme.
Acting on the complaints, the School Education Department issued Government Order No. 257-JK(Edu) of 2026, stating that the books contained “highly inappropriate content” and that there appeared to have been serious negligence, dereliction of duty and lack of due diligence by members of the expert committee responsible for recommending the books. According to the order, the books titled “Personalities and Legends of J&K” and “Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir” had been selected by the Higher Secondary (Series-4) Expert Committee from among hundreds of books procured under the Samagra Shiksha library grant before objections were raised and the books were subsequently withdrawn.
Eight Officials Suspended
Pending completion of the inquiry, the government has suspended eight officials associated with the selection process. The suspended officials include coordinators, academic officers, principals and lecturers who were members of the expert committee that evaluated and recommended the books. Besides the suspensions, a contractual employee attached to Samagra Shiksha has also been disengaged from service. The government has appointed a senior IAS officer as the Inquiry Officer and directed that the investigation be completed within 30 days.
Authors and Publishers Blacklisted
The administration has also ordered the blacklisting of the authors and publishers of the two controversial books across Jammu and Kashmir. It has further directed that all books authored or published by them be withdrawn from the Union Territory. The controversy has raised serious concerns over the mechanism adopted for screening books purchased with public funds and the accountability of expert committees entrusted with certifying educational material for government school libraries.
Minister for Education, Health and Social Welfare Sakeena Itoo said the issue was “intolerable and unacceptable” and announced a time-bound inquiry into the controversy. She said she had already directed the Secretary, School Education Department, to initiate a detailed investigation into how the objectionable content found its way into books published under the Samagra Shiksha programme.
“The issue is intolerable and unacceptable,” the minister said, adding that responsibility would be fixed after the inquiry. She assured that those found guilty would face strict action. “The inquiry has been initiated, and the culprits will be dealt with as per law,” she said.
Reiterating the government’s stand, Itoo said that those responsible for including controversial material in the books “will not be spared” and that accountability would be ensured after the inquiry report is submitted.
The minister said the government remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of the education system and ensuring that educational material used in schools is properly scrutinised.
BJP Demands Complete Ban on Book
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma demanded an immediate ban and withdrawal of the book “Personalities and Legends of J&K” from all government libraries and educational institutions.
Addressing a press conference along with BJP National Secretary and MLA Dr Narinder Singh, Chief Spokesperson and senior advocate Sunil Sethi, and party spokesperson Zorawar Singh Jamwal, Sharma described the publication as “an act of academic subversion.”
He alleged that its inclusion in the government library system reflected the continued influence of what he termed an “anti-India and separatist ecosystem.”
According to Sharma, the book authored by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena and published by Paradise Press was not a genuine historical work but an attempt to legitimise terrorism, separatism and anti-national ideology.
He alleged that the publication portrayed individuals associated with terrorism and separatist activities as “legends” and “freedom fighters” while presenting actions against India and the Indian security forces in a sympathetic manner. Sharma said the language and narratives used in the book amounted to a direct challenge to India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He alleged that the publication distorted history, undermined national institutions and misled young readers. According to him, the book functioned as “a manual of radicalisation and indoctrination” capable of gradually influencing young minds by promoting anti-India sentiments. Sharma specifically objected to the inclusion and portrayal of several personalities in the publication. He alleged that the book glorified Maqbool Bhat, despite acknowledging his conviction in murder cases and execution in Tihar Jail in 1984.
He also objected to the portrayal of Hashim Qureshi, alleging that the publication detailed his role in the hijacking of an Indian Airlines aircraft while projecting him as a significant personality.
The BJP leader further criticised references to Masarat Alam Bhat, alleging that the book highlighted his role in the 2010 stone-pelting incidents despite multiple criminal cases against him.
He also objected to extensive references to separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, claiming that his anti-India statements had been prominently featured in the publication. Sharma additionally questioned the inclusion of separatist figures Abdul Ghani Lone and Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, alleging that the book attempted to mainstream separatist ideology under the guise of documenting personalities from Jammu and Kashmir.
Describing the issue as one of national security rather than free speech, Sharma demanded the immediate confiscation and destruction of all copies of the book available in government libraries, educational institutions and public circulation. He also called for a high-level inquiry to identify officials, screening committees and librarians responsible for approving the procurement of the book.
Those found responsible, he said, should be prosecuted for facilitating what he described as anti-national propaganda. The BJP leader further demanded a comprehensive audit of all government and school libraries across Jammu and Kashmir to identify and remove any other publications allegedly promoting separatist narratives or undermining India’s territorial integrity. He said the government must send a clear message that there would be zero tolerance for literature glorifying terrorism or separatism and called for dismantling what he described as the ecosystem that enabled such material to enter public institutions.
The controversy has triggered widespread debate over the process through which books are selected for government school libraries under the Samagra Shiksha scheme. While the government has initiated disciplinary action and ordered a time-bound inquiry, opposition parties and civil society groups have demanded greater accountability and stricter scrutiny of educational material procured using public funds.
The inquiry report, expected within 30 days, is likely to determine individual responsibility and recommend further administrative and legal action.
