SRINAGAR, Sept 22: The Jammu and Kashmir government has examined more than 21.8 lakh books in libraries across the Union Territory and withdrawn 4,249 titles following a review of their content, the government informed the Legislative Assembly.
The exercise was carried out by the Higher Education Department as part of a review of books available in college libraries and other higher education institutions. Education Minister Sakina Itoo provided the figures in a written response in the Assembly.
According to the government’s response, a total of 21,81,582 books were examined during the review. Of these, 518 books were identified as banned, while another 4,249 books were withdrawn from circulation.
The government also stated that 1,752 books had been referred to experts for further examination. The review therefore involved different categories of material, with some books removed and others sent for additional assessment.
The figures indicate the scale of the exercise undertaken across educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir. Libraries in colleges and higher education institutions hold large collections covering academic subjects, literature, history, social sciences and other areas of study.
The government’s disclosure came after questions were raised in the Assembly regarding the removal of books from educational libraries. The issue has drawn attention to the process through which library material is examined and decisions are taken about whether particular titles should remain available to students and readers.
The Higher Education Department’s review covers a substantial number of books, with more than two million copies examined during the exercise. The government has differentiated between books that were withdrawn, those identified as banned and those sent for expert consideration.
Of the total material examined, 518 books were classified under the banned category in the government’s response. A further 4,249 titles were withdrawn from circulation, while 1,752 were referred for expert examination.
The process places an emphasis on reviewing the content available through institutional libraries. Books that remain under examination will be subject to the outcome of the expert assessment before further decisions are taken.
The exercise also brings attention to the role of libraries in higher education. College libraries provide students and researchers with access to books and reference material across a wide range of subjects. Decisions concerning library collections can therefore have implications for what material remains accessible within educational institutions.
The government’s response provides numerical details of the review but does not indicate that all examined books were treated in the same manner. Instead, the material was divided into different categories based on the findings of the review and subsequent decisions.
The 1,752 books sent for expert examination represent a separate category in which further assessment is required. The final status of those books will depend on the outcome of the review process.
The issue has emerged during the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session and has placed the functioning and content of college libraries under public scrutiny.
The government has said that the review involved more than 21 lakh books, making it one of the larger exercises undertaken to examine library collections across the Union Territory.
The development is likely to keep attention focused on how educational institutions manage library material, the criteria used for reviewing books and the procedures followed before titles are withdrawn or retained.
For students, teachers and researchers, institutional libraries remain an important source of academic and reference material. The government’s review has consequently raised questions about the balance between maintaining institutional library standards and ensuring access to educational resources.
The Higher Education Department’s figures provide the latest details of the exercise: 21,81,582 books examined, 518 identified as banned, 4,249 withdrawn and 1,752 referred for expert examination.
Further decisions on the books sent for expert assessment are expected to follow after the relevant review process is completed.