SRINAGAR: The Higher Education Department has withdrawn 4,249 books from circulation in colleges and libraries across Jammu and Kashmir after scrutiny found them objectionable, the government informed the Legislative Assembly.
Of the books removed, 3,996 were from institutions in the Kashmir division and 253 from the Jammu division, while the figure excludes books that had been formally banned.
The government said 21,81,582 books and publications had been examined so far, including 12,48,641 in Kashmir and 9,32,941 in Jammu.
The Assembly was also informed that 518 copies of 19 titles formally banned under S.O. 203, dated August 5, 2025, had been removed from circulation.
The department said the scrutiny of other material considered objectionable was still under way and that further time could be required because of the scale and nature of the exercise.
According to the government, the action was initiated on the grounds that higher education institutions are expected to promote higher learning, research and academic excellence while maintaining an environment that upholds constitutional values, academic freedom, critical thinking, scientific temper, responsible citizenship and respect for the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
The government further said the Higher Education Department had adopted “clear and objective” criteria to identify material requiring scrutiny in college libraries, in accordance with prescribed directions.
