‘Zero Tolerance’ for Separatist Literature; Heads of Institutions to Be Held Personally Accountable, SOP for Book Procurement Ordered
Srinagar, July 7 (JKNS): Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review action taken against the circulation of books and literature containing alleged anti-national and separatist content in educational institutions and directed a comprehensive audit of schools, colleges, universities and libraries across Jammu and Kashmir.
Official sources told news agency JKNS that Lieutenant Governor Sinha was briefed by officials on the recovery of books allegedly glorifying separatism, emphasizing that those responsible for procuring, approving or circulating the literature will face strict legal consequences.
Taking serious note of the matter, the Lieutenant Governor directed the concerned departments to put in place an effective mechanism to ensure there is no procurement, distribution or availability of any publications, including books, journals, magazines or any literature containing anti-national, separatist or objectionable content in universities, government and private colleges and schools, and public and private libraries.
This would include the heads of these institutions submitting an affirmation within a specified period regarding the non-availability of any such material in their respective institutions, apart from the conduct of a comprehensive audit and inspection.
The Lieutenant Governor also instructed the authorities to examine the websites and digital repositories of universities and higher educational institutions and immediately remove any objectionable material, if found.
Emphasising that such incidents must not recur, the Lieutenant Governor directed the formulation of a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) governing the procurement of books and academic material for schools, colleges and universities.
The SoP should provide for a robust screening mechanism, including periodic random scrutiny by a panel comprising eminent educationists, intellectuals and senior officers, to ensure that no material promoting anti-national or separatist narratives enters educational institutions.
The Lieutenant Governor warned that any lapse would invite strict accountability and that the Head of the Institution concerned would be held personally responsible.
Reiterating the administration’s commitment to safeguarding the educational ecosystem, the Lieutenant Governor said educational institutions must remain centres of learning, nation-building and constitutional values, and there will be zero tolerance for any attempt to mislead or radicalise students through objectionable literature.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo; Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department, Ashwani Kumar; Principal Secretary, Home Department, Chandraker Bharti; Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari; Additional Director, Intelligence Bureau, Pankaj Thakur; ADGP, CID, Nitish Kumar; and Commissioner/Secretary, School Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma. (JKNS)