Jammu and Kashmir schools ordered to screen all books for ‘objectionable’ content

The Jammu and Kashmir government has directed heads of government and recognised private schools, as well as coaching centres in the Kashmir division, to review all books on their premises for “inappropriate or objectionable content”, The Indian Express reported on Thursday.

The Kashmir Directorate of School Education has asked institutions to screen books in libraries, offices, classrooms and staff rooms, including recently acquired titles and older publications, the newspaper quoted the directive as saying.

The heads of institutions have also been instructed to submit certificates to their respective chief or zonal education officers confirming that no book on campus contains any “objectionable material”.

The order issued on Monday, said the screening was intended to ensure that “no book contains inappropriate or objectionable content”.

“This includes material that may violate religious sentiments of any section, be it inappropriate content for students, content against prevailing laws with the potential to harm national interest, affect educational values, and established norms,” it stated.

If any objectionable content is found, heads of institutions have been asked to provide a detailed report including the book’s title, author, publisher, year of publication and the number of copies available, The Indian Express reported.

The information is then to be submitted to the higher authorities for review within seven days.

Chief education officers have also been asked to...

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