Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department has removed 4,249 books from libraries, colleges and other higher education institutions across the Union Territory. Nearly 94 per cent of the withdrawn books, or 3,996 books, were from the Kashmir division while 253 withdrawn from Jammu .The figures were presented in Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in response to a question raised by MLA Langate and Awami Ittehad Party leader Sheikh Khursheed.The government said this removal of books – calling it ‘withdrawal’ – is a part of wider scrutiny exercise covering books and other publications available in educational institutions and libraries. So far, 21,81,582 books and publications have been scrutinised across Jammu and Kashmir, the government reply mentions.The government in its response mentioned that of these, 12,48,641 were examined in the Kashmir division, while 9,32,941 were examined in Jammu. The government, however, did not specify the period over which the 4,249 books were withdrawn.The figures released by the government do not include books that had already been formally banned. Separately, the government informed the assembly that 518 copies of 19 titles banned under S.O. 203, dated August 5, 2025, had been removed from circulation.In August 2025, the J&K Home Department banned 25 books by academics, journalists, writers and historians, citing concerns that they promoted what the government terms “false narratives, radicalisation and secessionism.” The list included works by Arundhati Roy, A.G. Noorani, Sumantra Bose, Sugata Bose, Christopher Snedden and Victoria Schofield.The wider scrutiny process is still underway. “The process of scrutiny of objectionable books, material to be withdrawn is under process in the Department as the same is laborious exercise and may take more time,” the government said.The crackdown on books gathered momentum this year after a controversy over two books supplied to school libraries under the Samagra Shiksha programme. Authorities alleged that the books contained favourable references to separatist leaders and used terminology associated with secessionist politics.The wider scrutiny centred on Personalities and Legends of J&K, written by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena, and Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir, written by Sushant Giri.The department is using a three-tier “academic and content scrutiny mechanism” to review the material. The mechanism includes committees at the college level, directorate level and administrative department level.The government said the exercise is aimed at ensuring that higher educational institutions remain centres of learning, research and academic excellence. It said the material available to students should promote constitutional values, academic freedom, critical thinking, scientific temper and responsible citizenship.The department has also adopted what it described as “clear and objective criteria” for identifying material considered objectionable.A circular issued in July called for a transparent and accountable system for the evaluation, procurement, recommendation, retention, circulation and periodic review of academic material.The guidelines require publications to be reviewed for their academic relevance, factual accuracy and pedagogical suitability. They must also conform to the Constitution of India, applicable laws, University Grants Commission regulations, government policy and the educational objectives of the Higher Education Department.The review also covers material that the government says contains factually inaccurate, misleading, inflammatory, unlawful or otherwise objectionable content. This includes publications that directly or indirectly promote, glorify, legitimise or justify terrorism, violent extremism, secessionism or radicalisation.Regional differenceThe latest figures show a clear regional difference in the number of withdrawals. Kashmir accounts for 3,996 of the 4,249 books withdrawn, or roughly 94% of the total.The administration has defended the scrutiny process as a necessary safeguard against the spread of separatist narratives among students. Critics, however, have questioned the widening scope of government oversight over educational and intellectual spaces. They have argued that broad screening of books could restrict academic inquiry, historical debate and access to differing interpretations of Kashmir’s past. “Government should not mix literature and politics. Government should allow students to read whatever they want and let them decide what is good and bad literature,” Rao Farman Ali, an educationist from Kashmir told The Wire when government had last launched a crackdown on books in the UT.The government has not provided a detailed list of all 4,249 books withdrawn through the ongoing scrutiny exercise. It has also not stated when the process will be completed.For now, the department says the scrutiny remains in progress and that further withdrawals may follow as the review of books and other material continues.