Probe ordered; all copies withdrawn
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Saturday suspended eight School Education Department officials, ordered a departmental inquiry and blacklisted two authors and publishers after controversial books allegedly glorifying separatists and terrorists were found to have been supplied to government school libraries.
The action came a day after the School Education Department ordered the immediate withdrawal of all copies of the books from schools across the Union Territory.
The books in question are Personalities and Legends of J&K, authored by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena and published by Oberoi Book Service, Jammu, and Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir, authored by Dr. Sushant Giri and published by Anurag Prakashan, Delhi.
According to the government order, 123 copies of the first book were supplied to schools in Jammu, Ramban and Udhampur districts, while 128 copies of the second book were distributed to schools in Jammu and Baramulla districts.
The order said the books contained “highly inappropriate content” related to separatism, reflecting “serious negligence, dereliction of duty and lack of proper due diligence” on the part of the members of the Sub-Committee Series 4 and supervisory officers responsible for recommending them. It said the content had the potential to create law and order problems.
The suspended officials are Fazil Imran Saddiqui, Coordinator (Library), Samagra Shiksha; Gurjeet Singh, Assistant Coordinator, Samagra Shiksha; Sanjeev Sharma, Principal, Government Higher Secondary School Kore Pannu, Kathua; Shazia Kouser, Academic Officer, SCERT Jammu; Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir, Lecturer, Boys Higher Secondary School Budgam; Niranjan Sharma, Lecturer, Government Higher Secondary School Badhat, Kishtwar; Renu Mengi, Lecturer; and Rajmohini, Lecturer, Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Poonch.
During the suspension period, all eight officials will remain attached to the School Education Department. The government also disengaged Sheikh Suheel Ahmad, a contractual Computer Assistant assisting the Library Coordinator of Samagra Shiksha, with immediate effect.
Ashwani Kumar, IAS, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Power Development Department, has been appointed Inquiry Officer to investigate the matter, while Rohit Sharma, JKAS, Additional Secretary in the General Administration Department, has been named Presenting Officer. The inquiry has been directed to submit its report within 30 days.
The order further stated that the two authors and their publishers have been banned and blacklisted in the Union Territory, and all material authored or published by them will be withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, Commissioner/Secretary, School Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma said all copies of the books had been recalled from schools and proceedings initiated against those responsible for their publication, approval, procurement and distribution.
He said the books had been supplied to schools under the Samagra Shiksha scheme in June 2026 and were withdrawn on July 3.
The controversy erupted after the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Forum alleged that one of the books portrayed separatist leaders and terrorists as “great personalities” and “legends” of Jammu and Kashmir. The issue gained political traction after Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma demanded the immediate withdrawal of the books, a high-level probe and action against those responsible.
The government action follows widespread criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups over the inclusion of the books in government school libraries.
