Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo said books banned under provisions of law cannot be retained in government schools or colleges, describing the review of educational institution libraries as part of a regular administrative process rather than a new or extraordinary exercise. Speaking to reporters during a visit to Sheetal Nath Temple near Kral Khud in Srinagar, Dulloo was asked whether the list of banned books could be expanded further, to which he said the government’s position on the matter was unambiguous.
“Banned books, which the government has banned under provisions of law, should not be in government schools or colleges. The government has taken this decision,” Dulloo said, adding that the examination of library holdings across government educational institutions was a routine exercise rather than a one-off directive. His remarks came a day after the Jammu and Kashmir government informed the Legislative Assembly that 4,249 books had been withdrawn from circulation in government degree college libraries, in addition to 518 books formally classified as banned, figures that have drawn political attention in recent days, including questions raised by opposition members in the Assembly.
Beyond the books issue, the Chief Secretary used the visit to speak about the historical and cultural significance of Sheetal Nath Temple, describing it as an important part of Srinagar’s heritage and calling its preservation a collective societal responsibility. He noted the temple is believed to be one of the eight Bhairavas associated with the protection of Srinagar, and said it had historically served not only as a place of worship but also as a venue for community and religious gatherings within the old city.
Dulloo recalled that the temple had been burnt in 1991 during a period of unrest in the Valley, and was subsequently repaired through the efforts of the Sanatan Dharma Sabha. The shrine remained closed to devotees for several decades before reopening in 2021, a moment that has since been cited by officials as symbolic of the broader effort to restore access to religious and heritage sites across the city. The Chief Secretary’s remarks, touching on both administrative policy and heritage preservation, come amid continuing public and political attention on the government’s approach to library content in educational institutions across the Union Territory.
