Lt Governor suspends 8 officials over ‘inappropriate content’ in school books

Srinagar, Jul 4: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday ordered suspension of eight officials of School Education Department (SED) for procuring and approving two textbooks containing ‘inappropriate’ content for school children.
The Commissioner Secretary School Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma in an order said that on the orders of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha eight officials of the department have been placed under suspension with immediate effect.
Sharma in the order said that Samagra Shiksha got the Library Grant for procurement of ‘Age Appropriate Books’ for 18,328 Government Schools and 394 PM SHRI School and accordingly EOI was floated
“For selection of Age Appropriate Books, 4 Sub Committees of Experts, Academicians from both Jammu and Kashmir Divisions were constituted for selection of Library Books,” it reads.
It also said that these sub committees are for Primary Classes Series (1), Upper Primary Classes Series (2),Secondary Classes Series (3) and Higher Secondary Classes Series (4).
“These four Sub Committees selected 463 books submitted by 364 publishers. Out of these books, two books have been noticed on 03.07.2026 to have inappropriate content,” it reads.
The Commissioner Secretary further said, “Accordingly, these books were withdrawn. These two books include ‘Personalities and Legends of J&K’, authored by Hilal Ahmad and Mr Santosh Meena, published by Oberoi Book Service, Jammu and ‘Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir’ authored by Dr Sushant Giri, published by Anurag Prakashan, Delhi.”
“It has been observed that 123 number of books at Serial-I were supplied to Jammu, Ramban and Udhampur Districts and 128 number of books mentioned at Serial-II were supplied to Jammu and Baramula Districts,” reads the order.
Sharma also said that it has come to the notice of the department that these books have highly inappropriate content, it is quite evident that there was serious negligence, dereliction of duty and lack of proper due diligence was carried out by the members of the Sub Committee Series-IV and Supervisory Officers while recommending such books which contained content related to separatism which has potential for creating law and order situations
“Keeping in view the above facts and circumstances of the matter, the members of the Sub Committee Series-IV appear to be responsible for such serious lapses and negligence of government servants,” it reads.
“Therefore, the officials and supervisory staff of the School Education Department in terms of Rule 31(1)(a) Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification. Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, are placed under suspension, with immediate effect,” the government ordered.
It also ordered that during the period of suspension, they shall remain attached with the administrative department of the School Education Department.
Furthermore, the government ordered the disengagement of Computer Assistant (Contractual) assisting the Coordinator Library, Samagra Shiksha with immediate effect from his contractual engagement.
Keeping in view the seriousness of the matter and misconduct of these officials, the government appointed Ashwani Kumar, IAS, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department appointed as Inquiry Officer to conduct an enquiry into the matter.
Besides, the government appointed Rohit Sharma, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department as the Presenting Officer in the case.
“The Inquiry Officer shall submit his report to the Competent Authority within 30 days,” it reads.
The government also ordered ban and blacklisting of these authors and publishers in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Furthermore, any printed material authored or published by them shall also be withdrawn from the Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” reads the order. (KNO)