Eight officials suspended over separatist content in school books
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered the suspension of eight officials and supervisory staff from the School Education Department on Friday after two books containing what the government described as "highly inappropriate content" were supplied to government schools. The LG also ordered a high-level inquiry and banned the authors and publishers of the books across the Union Territory.
The action followed objections raised by the BJP, Congress, and other political parties, who alleged that the books glorified separatism and anti-India elements. The School Education Department issued an order directing the immediate withdrawal of both books from all schools.
Books and authors identified
The two books in question are Personalities and Legends of J&K, authored by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena, and Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir, authored by Sushant Giri. According to the government order, "It has come to the notice of the department that these books contain highly inappropriate content. It is evident that there was serious negligence, dereliction of duty and lack of proper due diligence by the members of the Sub-Committee Series-4 and supervisory officers while recommending books containing content related to separatism, which has the potential to create law and order issues."
Suspended officials named
The eight suspended officials are: Fazil Imran Saddiqui, Coordinator Library, Samagra Shiksha; Gurjeet Singh, Assistant Coordinator, Samagra Shiksha; Sanjeev Sharma, Principal, Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS), Kore Pannu; Shazia Kouser, Academic Officer, SCERT Jammu; Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir, Lecturer, Boys Higher Secondary School, Wathoora, Budgam; Niranjan Sharma, Lecturer, GHSS Badhat, Kishtwar; Renu Mengi, Lecturer, DIET Jammu; and Rajmohini, Lecturer, Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Poonch. Additionally, the government ordered the immediate disengagement of Sheikh Suheel Ahmad, a contractual computer assistant attached to Samagra Shiksha.
High-level inquiry ordered
LG Sinha appointed Ashwani Kumar, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) of the Power Development Department, as the Inquiry Officer to conduct a detailed probe. The government also directed that the authors and publishers of the two books be banned and blacklisted in Jammu and Kashmir, and that any printed material authored or published by them be withdrawn from the Union Territory.
Political reactions
Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma demanded an immediate ban on the books. He alleged that the publications glorified terrorists, separatists, and anti-India elements, posing a serious threat to the sovereignty and integrity of the country. The government order noted that the members of the sub-committee appeared responsible for serious lapses and negligence unbecoming of government servants.
