Srinagar, July 7: In the aftermath of the recent controversy over alleged objectionable and separatist-related material in educational books, the Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) has initiated a division-wide verification campaign, directing all government schools, recognised private institutions and coaching centres to conduct a comprehensive review of every publication available on their campuses within seven days.
According to an official circular, Heads of Institutions (HoIs) have been instructed to inspect books kept in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, offices, staff rooms and other institutional facilities. The exercise will include both recently supplied and previously available publications to ensure that no book contains objectionable, anti-national or inappropriate material.
The Directorate said the verification exercise is aimed at ensuring that educational resources conform to constitutional values, national integrity, existing laws, communal harmony and the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020. Institutions have also been directed to verify that all reading material is suitable for the age and academic requirements of students.
Under the directions, if any objectionable content is identified, institutions must immediately prepare a detailed report specifying the title of the publication, author’s name, publisher, nature of the objectionable material and the number of copies available within the institution.
The Directorate has fixed a seven-day timeline for completion of the exercise. All government schools, recognised private schools and coaching centres have been directed to submit compliance certificates to their respective Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) by July 13, 2026, certifying that every publication has been examined. Institutions detecting objectionable content have been instructed to attach a comprehensive report along with the compliance certificate.
The circular further directs ZEOs to scrutinise and consolidate reports received from institutions before forwarding them to the respective Chief Education Officers (CEOs) by July 15. Thereafter, CEOs have been asked to submit district-wise consolidated compliance reports to the Directorate by July 17, 2026.
Joint Directors of the Directorate have also been assigned the responsibility of collecting reports from all districts and submitting a final consolidated report to the Director School Education Jammu after completion of the verification process.
The Directorate has warned that any negligence, delay or failure to comply with the instructions will invite strict disciplinary proceedings against the concerned officials under the applicable service rules.
The latest directive comes after widespread concern over books supplied to government schools and libraries that allegedly contained separatist references and other objectionable material. The controversy prompted the School Education Department to withdraw the disputed publications and initiate departmental action.
Following the incident, the government assured that accountability would be fixed after completion of a detailed inquiry into the procurement and distribution of the books.
Subsequently, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered a high-level probe into the matter, suspended eight officials of the School Education Department, disengaged a contractual employee and directed authorities to ensure that no objectionable content is included in educational material supplied to schools in future.
Meanwhile, the Counter Intelligence Wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered a criminal case in connection with the controversy and continues its investigation, including searches at multiple locations in Jammu and Noida as part of the ongoing probe. (KNC)
