Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government has withdrawn over 4,700 books, including banned ones, containing objectionable content from colleges across the Union territory after scanning nearly 2.2 million publications.

In a written reply to a question in the assembly by Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) MLA from Langate, Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh, the government said it has examined 21,81,582 books/publications till date.

Out of these, 9,32,941 were examined in Jammu division, while 12,48,641 in Kashmir division, the Higher Education Department said in its reply.

The government said it has withdrawn from circulation 4,767 books including 518 banned publications.

While 293 books have been withdrawn in Jammu region, 4,474 have been withdrawn from the Kashmir valley.

The government has also referred 1,752 books -- 538 in Jammu and 1,214 in Kashmir -- for expert examination to director of colleges.

It said a clear and objective criteria has been adopted for identifying objectionable material for scrutiny of books available in colleges.

However, it added, that the process of scrutiny of objectionable books/material to be withdrawn is under process in the department.

The government asserted that the reason for such action is that the higher education institutions constitute centres of higher learning, research, academic excellence and are expected to foster an environment that upholds constitutional values, academic freedom, critical thinking, scientific temper, responsible citizenship and respect for the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.

The scrutiny follows orders issued in July by the education department and universities to screen all books following a controversy over procurement of two books which had objectionable content.

This report was published from a syndicated wire feed. Apart from the headline, the EdexLive Desk has not edited the copy.