DD Correspondent
Jammu, Research and Advocacy Group (RAAG), an organisation working in the field of legal research, constitutional advocacy, public policy and public interest issues, has approached the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), New Delhi, seeking urgent inquiry into the controversy relating to objectionable, anti-constitutional, anti-national and terrorist-glorifying books procured/supplied under the Samagra Shiksha Library Component 2025–26 in Jammu and Kashmir.
The complaint, filed by Madhavi Sambyal, Trustee, RAAG, has been registered by the NCPCR vide Complaint ID No. 99998.
RAAG has submitted that the matter is not merely a procurement lapse, but a serious child-rights violation, as the books were allegedly meant for school libraries and exposed children to material glorifying terrorists/separatists and promoting narratives contrary to the Constitution of India, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and the National Education Policy, 2020.
The complaint refers to the books “Personalities and Legends of J&K” and “Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir”, which have come under scrutiny for allegedly containing separatist, anti-constitutional and age-inappropriate content.
RAAG has sought inquiry into how such material was selected, approved, procured, supplied and made accessible to children. It has requested NCPCR to call for complete records from the J&K Government, School Education Department, Samagra Shiksha, SCERT, JKBOSE and other concerned authorities.
According to RAAG, suspension of officials, withdrawal of books and registration of FIR do not, by themselves, answer the core child-rights questions, including whether children accessed the material, which age groups were exposed, whether all copies have been recovered and preserved, and what child-protection safeguards are being created to prevent recurrence.
The complaint seeks identification and fixation of responsibility upon all persons involved, including officials of the School Education Department, Samagra Shiksha, expert committees, procurement authorities, authors, publishers, printers, suppliers and distributors. RAAG has also prayed for appropriate departmental, disciplinary and criminal action against all persons found responsible.
RAAG has further sought recovery, sealing and preservation of all physical and digital copies of the controversial books, manuscripts, drafts, procurement files and related records.
The organisation has also requested a comprehensive child-rights audit of all books, curriculum, study material, library material, digital content and other educational material accessible to children below 18 years across J&K, including Government schools, private schools, coaching centres, hostels, community-managed institutions, non-formal learning centres and similar institutions.
RAAG clarified that the proposed audit is neutral and non-discriminatory, and is aimed only at ensuring that no child-accessible material promotes separatism, terrorism, violence, communal hatred, anti-constitutional propaganda or anything contrary to the Constitution, Article 51A, RTE Act and NEP 2020.
RAAG said the controversy has exposed a serious gap in child-protection safeguards in educational content governance and requires intervention from the specialised child-rights body to ensure accountability, prevention and protection of children from harmful educational material.
