Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday suspended eight officials of the School Education Department, removed a contractual employee and ordered an inquiry after two books were found to contain "highly inappropriate content".
The action came after the BJP, Congress and other political groups raised objections, alleging that the books glorified separatism. The School Education Department said the two books were withdrawn on Friday.
The books are titled ‘Personalities and Legends of J&K’, authored by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena and published by Oberoi Book Service, Jammu; and 'Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir’, authored by Sushant Giri and published by Anurag Prakashan, Delhi.
According to the order, 123 copies of one book were supplied to schools in Jammu, Ramban and Udhampur districts, while 128 copies of the other book were supplied to schools in Jammu and Baramulla districts.
The order said the books contained "highly inappropriate content" related to separatism and cited serious negligence, dereliction of duty and lack of due diligence by members of the sub-committee and supervisory officers who recommended them.
Following the findings, eight officials of the School Education Department were placed under suspension with immediate effect. During the suspension period, they will remain attached to the department's administrative wing.
The order also directed that Sheikh Suheel Ahmad, a contractual computer assistant attached to the Coordinator Library under Samagra Shiksha, be disengaged with immediate effect.
The Lieutenant Governor appointed Ashwani Kumar, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Power Development Department, as the inquiry officer to investigate the matter. The inquiry report has been sought within 30 days.
The order also directed that the authors and publishers of the two books be banned and blacklisted in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It further ordered the withdrawal of all printed material authored or published by them from the Union Territory.
The controversy erupted after political parties raised objections to the books' content.
The BJP alleged that the books glorified terrorists, separatists and stone-pelters, and demanded an immediate ban on them as well as the removal of Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Sakeena Itoo.
The Congress also demanded a high-level inquiry into the distribution of the books under the Samagra Shiksha Mission and sought an immediate ban on them pending completion of the investigation.
