J&K govt suspends 8 employees in educational department, withdraws two books selected under Samagra Shiksha scheme

The Jammu and Kashmir has suspended eight employees of the education department and ordered an enquiry for alleged serious negligence for including two controversial books under Samagra Shiksha scheme.

The government has also withdrawn the two books "Personalities and Legends of J&K" written by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena and published by Oberoi Book Service in Jammu and "Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir" written by Dr Sushant Giri and published by Anurag Prakashan in Delhi, which were sent to the government libraries and schools through Samagra Shiksha scheme.

The controversy was amplified by the senior BJP members including Leader of the Opposition in J&K Assembly Sunil Sharma who termed it "an academic Jihad" as it mentions personalities inclduing Syed Ali Geelani, Masarat Alam and Maqbool Bhat. He demanded a probe into it and sought the resignation of education minister Sakina Ittoo.


The goverment order states that the government sub committee 463 books out of which these two books have "inappropriate content" and accordingly these two books have been "withdrawn."

The order issued by Commissioner Secretary of the education department Ram Niwas Sharma, stated that the "department has found that these books have highly inappropriate content, it is quite evident that there was serious negligence, dereliction of duty and lack of proper due diligence was carried out by the members of subcommittee" who have now been suspended. The order further states that the enquiry would be completed within 30 days and the authors and publishers have been blacklisted and banned by the government.

Former Director General of J&K Police S P Vaid, who has also been mentioned in the book said he "felt ashamed to be listed in this kind of book." "It is very sad and shameful that my name is there alongside Masrat Alam and Maqbool Bhat. The government should withdraw the books immediately," said Vaid.