Srinagar/Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir government has withdrawn over 4,700 books, including banned ones, containing objectionable content from colleges across the Union territory after scanning nearly 2.2 million publications.
In a written reply to a question in the assembly by Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) MLA from Langate, Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh, the government said it has examined 21,81,582 books/publications till date.
Out of these, 9,32,941 were examined in Jammu division, while 12,48,641 in Kashmir division, the Higher Education Department said in its reply.
The government said it has withdrawn from circulation 4,767 books including 518 banned publications.
While 293 books have been withdrawn in Jammu region, 4,474 have been withdrawn from the Kashmir valley.
The government has also referred 1,752 books — 538 in Jammu and 1,214 in Kashmir — for expert examination to director of colleges.
It said a clear and objective criteria has been adopted for identifying objectionable material for scrutiny of books available in colleges.
However, it added, that the process of scrutiny of objectionable books/material to be withdrawn is under process in the department.
The government asserted that the reason for such action is that the higher education institutions constitute centres of higher learning, research, academic excellence and are expected to foster an environment that upholds constitutional values, academic freedom, critical thinking, scientific temper, responsible citizenship and respect for the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
The scrutiny follows orders issued in July by the education department and universities to screen all books following a controversy over procurement of two books which had objectionable content.
Elected Govt has no role in banning books: CM
Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the elected government in the Union territory has no role in banning of books under the present administrative set up.
Replying to a question from mediapersons on alleged banning of books and removal of publications from libraries in Jammu and Kasnmir, Abdullah said the move raises the wider question of whether this is the way forward in a democracy.
“I have my own views on whether books should be banned or not. But unfortunately, in the current system, the elected government doesn’t get to decide these things. Therefore, we just have to wait for that situation to change, and then we will take a fresh look at what has happened,” the chief minister said.