As Kashmir varsities cull ‘objectionable’ books, fear of losing academic rigour grows among scholars

2026-07-11 · 4 min

UPSC CSE Context Why in News: Kashmir University and schools are screening and removing books deemed 'objectionable' following official orders, sparking concerns over academic freedom. Syllabus Connection: Polity: Fundamental Rights Article 19 1 a freedom of speech and expression, Education, and Centre State Relations. Exam Relevance: Relevant for debates on academic freedom, censorship, national security vs. constitutional rights, and education policy in sensitive regions. Core Issue Widespread removal of books from Kashmir's educational institutions raises fears of self censorship and loss of academic rigour. Key Development: Official orders mandate screening of all books in universities and schools without specifying titles, leading to arbitrary removal of hundreds of books. Stakeholders: Directorate of School Education, Kashmir J&K regional parties PDP, NC Scholars and professors Students Publishers Static Knowledge High Value Background: Samagra Shiksha Scheme is a centrally spon

## UPSC CSE Context **Why in News:** Kashmir University and schools are screening and removing books deemed 'objectionable' following official orders, sparking concerns over academic freedom. **Syllabus Connection:** Polity: Fundamental Rights (Article 19(1)(a) - freedom of speech and expression), Education, and Centre-State Relations. **Exam Relevance:** Relevant for debates on academic freedom, censorship, national security vs. constitutional rights, and education policy in sensitive regions. ## Core Issue Widespread removal of books from Kashmir's educational institutions raises fears of self-censorship and loss of academic rigour. **Key Development:** Official orders mandate screening of all books in universities and schools without specifying titles, leading to arbitrary removal of hundreds of books. **Stakeholders:** - Directorate of School Education, Kashmir - J&K regional parties (PDP, NC) - Scholars and professors - Students - Publishers ## Static Knowledge **High-Value Background:** - Samagra Shiksha Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme for school education, integrating pre-school to class 12. **Exam Linkage:** - Useful for questions on freedom of speech, academic freedom, and state intervention in education in conflict zones. **Concepts in Context:** - Self-censorship: When individuals suppress their own expression due to fear of repercussions, often more damaging than state censorship. - Academic rigour: The quality of scholarship based on comprehensive, unbiased engagement with diverse sources. **Institutions and Mechanisms:** - Kashmir University: Central university in J&K, now involved in book screening. ## Dynamic Analysis ### Constitutional/Legal - The screening orders may violate Article 19(1)(a) if they lead to arbitrary removal without clear guidelines, as vague orders invite self-censorship. - Reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) must be proportionate; blanket removal of books without specific titles may fail proportionality. - The circular's requirement that books be 'consistent with the Constitution' is broad and could be misused to suppress legitimate academic discourse. ### Governance - The lack of specific titles in the order shifts responsibility to departments, creating fear and arbitrary decisions. - The committee tasked with collecting audit reports may lack academic expertise, leading to bureaucratic overreach. - The order's threat of disciplinary action for non-compliance pressures institutions to over-comply, harming academic freedom. ### Education - Removal of books on Kashmir's history and personalities (e.g., Maqbool Bhat, Syed Ali Geelani) impoverishes scholarship and introduces bias. - The incident highlights tension between national security concerns and academic freedom in conflict-affected regions. ### Political - Regional parties (PDP, NC) criticize the move as a 'purge' targeting Kashmir's identity and history. - The order follows a book profiling separatist leaders circulated under a central scheme, indicating political sensitivity. - The state's previous removal of authors like A.G. Noorani and Arundhati Roy shows a pattern of ideological control. ## Mains Value Addition **Arguments:** - Academic freedom is essential for a vibrant democracy and must be protected even in sensitive regions. - The state has a legitimate interest in preventing material that promotes terrorism, but this must be balanced with constitutional guarantees. - Historical scholarship requires access to diverse sources; removing books on separatist leaders hinders understanding of complex issues. **Data Points:** - Over 50 academic departments of Kashmir University involved in screening. - 25 books removed in 2025 from KU by authors like Snedden, Noorani, Bose, etc. **Counterpoints:** - The state argues that books glorifying terrorism or secessionism are not protected speech under Article 19(2). - Similar censorship exists in other countries to protect national security, but the process must be transparent. ## Way Forward - Establish clear, specific guidelines for book screening with involvement of academic experts to avoid arbitrariness. - Create an independent review committee with scholars to assess contested books, ensuring due process. - Promote academic freedom while addressing security concerns through dialogue with universities and political parties. - Revisit the circular to remove vague language and ensure compliance with constitutional guarantees.

Source: National News