The University of Jammu has initiated a significant crackdown on publications deemed to promote separatism within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. In a directive issued by the university administration, the purchase of books authored by Hilal Ahmad, Santosh Meena, and Dr. Sushant Giri has been strictly prohibited. Furthermore, the university has mandated the immediate withdrawal of all existing copies of their publications from its premises, including libraries and digital repositories.
This decisive action follows a period of intense scrutiny and objections raised by various social and political groups concerning the content of books distributed under the Samagra Shiksha program. The counter-intelligence wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police has been actively investigating these allegations, leading to the recent arrest of three publishers in connection with the controversial material. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that these arrests are part of a wider operation targeting the dissemination of what officials describe as “highly inappropriate content” in educational materials.
A formal circular, disseminated to all Rectors, Directors, Heads of Teaching Departments, and the In-charge Librarian of the Dhanvantri Library, explicitly stated that the aforementioned authors and publishers have been banned and blacklisted within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This ban is reportedly in accordance with Government Order No. 257-JK (Edu) of 2026, dated July 4, 2026, issued by the School Education Department of the Civil Secretariat, J&K. The order further stipulates that any printed material authored or published by these blacklisted individuals must be withdrawn from the entire territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The specific authors targeted are Hilal Ahmad, Santosh Meena, and Dr. Sushant Giri. The publishers facing the ban are Oberoi Book Service, based in Jammu, and Anurag Prakashan, located in Delhi. The university’s directive emphasizes that no new materials from these banned entities should be procured, and existing copies must be systematically removed. This includes books, journals, magazines, and any other form of printed or digital academic material.
The publishers who were previously arrested in connection with the matter include Inderpaul of Oberoi Book Service, Jammu, and Amardeep Singh and Girish Arora of Dominant Publishers, a Noida-based entity. Both Oberoi Book Service and Dominant Publishers had already been blacklisted by the government prior to these arrests. Counter-intelligence teams had conducted raids on their premises on July 6, as part of the ongoing investigation into the publication and distribution of books containing objectionable content.
The books that have drawn the ire of authorities include ‘Personalities and Legends of J&K’, co-authored by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena and published by Oberoi Book Service. Another book, ‘Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir’, authored by Sushant Giri and published by Anurag Prakashan, has also been flagged. The university’s internal audit revealed that copies of these books were present in the varsity’s library, even after the Jammu and Kashmir administration had officially banned them.
The University of Jammu has instructed all relevant staff to ensure strict compliance with the government order. This involves taking necessary actions for the withdrawal of any such printed material from their respective offices, departments, libraries, and digital repositories. The circular underscores the importance of establishing a robust mechanism through departmental academic committees to prevent the procurement, distribution, or availability of publications containing anti-national, separatist, or otherwise objectionable content within the university’s academic environment.
In response to the situation, the university has also ordered an immediate and comprehensive audit and inspection of all its departments to verify the absence of any such prohibited material. To further strengthen its screening processes, a committee has been constituted by the university. This committee is tasked with formulating a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for the procurement of all books and academic materials. The proposed SoP will include the framing of a stringent screening mechanism, complemented by periodic random scrutiny by a panel of academicians, to effectively prevent objectionable content from entering the institution.
The move by the University of Jammu reflects a broader effort by the administration in the Union Territory to vet educational and informational materials for content that could be perceived as undermining national integrity or promoting divisive ideologies. The involvement of counter-intelligence units and the arrests of publishers highlight the seriousness with which such matters are being treated. The university’s proactive steps, including the formation of a committee for SOP development, aim to create a more secure and ideologically aligned academic ecosystem.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.