![\"J&K](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-132296806,imgsize-28356,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/istockphoto-2275555277-612x612.jpg\" "\\"Representative")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nSRINAGAR\/JAMMU: J&K govt and University of Kashmir have launched a comprehensive review of books, directing heads of departments and school principals to remove any material deemed \u201ccontroversial\u201d or \u201canti-national\u201d.The move follows last week\u2019s withdrawal and political row over a book for govt school libraries that described the region as \u201cIndia-occupied Kashmir\u201d and \u201cIndian-held Kashmir\u201d, and referred to banned JKLF founder Maqbool Bhat as \u201cShaheed\u201d.The latest order for a review has drawn sharp reaction from Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi of the governing National Conference (NC), who called the decision \u201cdeeply troubling.\u201d \u201cLibraries exist to preserve knowledge, not curate political narratives. Erasing books does not erase history. It only impoverishes scholarship. Academic freedom and the right to engage with history must never become casualties of ideological control,\u201d Mehdi said.PDP legislator Waheed Parra echoed the criticism, describing the review as \u201cthe process of unhistory.\u201dOn July 4, J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha ordered withdrawal of two books — Personalities and Legends of J&K by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena, and Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir by Sushant Giri over \u201chighly inappropriate content\u201d. Personalities and Legends of J&K had the references to \u201cIndia-occupied Kashmir\u201d and Bhat, who was hanged and buried in Tihar jail in Feb 1984 after being convicted of killing a CID inspector. Sinha, appointed by the Centre, oversees law and order in the Union territory of J&K.University of Kashmir registrar Naseer Iqbal confirmed orders to remove books with \u201canti-national content\u201d. \u201cWe have asked departments to identify any book against national interest,\u201d Iqbal said. The heads will examine whether any books contain objectionable content. \u201cIf any department finds a controversial book, it is expected to remove it on its own,\u201d Iqbal added.Naseer Ahmad Wani, J&K\u2019s director of school education, issued a fresh order Thursday to heads of govt and recognised private schools, and coaching institutions for a comprehensive screening of books. \u201cThe purpose is to ensure that no book contains objectionable content. This includes material that may violate religious sentiments of any section, may be inappropriate for students, potentially harm national interest.…,\u201d the order reads.If objectionable content is noticed, the heads should prepare a detailed report. They are also required to submit a compliance report by July 19 certifying that all books in their institutions have been reviewed and none has objectionable material, Wani\u2019s order states.Meanwhile, Research and Advocacy Group (RAAG), an organisation in the field of legal research, constitutional advocacy and public policy, has approached National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in New Delhi seeking an inquiry into the controversial books.RAAG has argued that the circulation of books with objectionable content in govt school libraries is not merely a procurement lapse but a serious child-rights violation. The books exposed schoolchildren to material glorifying terrorists\/separatists and promoting narratives contrary to the Constitution. This violates Right to Education Act, 2009, and National Education Policy, 2020.<\/div>\n