Srinagar, Aug 20 (KNO): In an aggressive push to scrub radical narratives from higher education, J&K Higher Education Department (JKHED) has ordered a blanket ban on any literature promoting violent extremism, secessionism, or national sovereignty threats across all J&K universities and campus libraries.
In this regard, the department has issued the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for evaluation, selection, procurement, publication, acceptance, quality assurance and periodic review of books and other educational resources in universities of Jammu & Kashmir.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), JKHED in an order said that the Universities of Jammu & Kashmir, through their respective academic, administrative and library systems, procure and provide books, journals, reference materials, e-resources and other educational resources for the benefit of students, research scholars, faculty and other academic stakeholders.
“Such resources constitute a n important component of the academic and research ecosystem of Universities and are required to support teaching, learning, research, innovation and the overall intellectual development of students and scholars,” it reads.
It also said that the process of selection and procurement of books and other educational resources carries with it a corresponding obligation to ensure that every publication introduced into a university is academically credible, factually accurate, relevant to the curriculum and research requirements, constitutionally compliant, legally permissible and appropriate for use in an institution of higher learning.
“It is considered expedient to institutionalize a uniform, transparent and traceable framework governing the selection, academic evaluation, content verification approval, procurement, acceptance, cataloguing, circulation, monitoring and periodic review of books and other educational resources in the Universities of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir,” JKHED said.
It also said that in the interest of maintaining academic integrity, institutional accountability, quality assurance and public confidence in the Universities, the government has issued the Standard Operating Procedures.
“These SOPs shall govern the entire institutional lifecycle of books and other educational resources, including pre procurement selection, academic evaluation, content verification and approval; procurement and receipt; cataloguing and circulation; and post-procurement monitoring, periodic review, retention, withdrawal or replacement, wherever warranted,” it reads.
JKHED further said that these SOPs shall apply to all Universities established by or under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, including their University Departments, Schools, Centres, Campuses, Central University Libraries, Departmental Libraries and other academic units, subject to the provisions of the respective University Acts, Statutes, Ordinances, Regulations and applicable financial and procurement rules.
“The selection, procurement, publication, recommendation, acceptance, circulation and continued retention of books and other learning resources in universities shall be guided by the principles of academic excellence, factual authenticity, pedagogical suitability, constitutional values, transparency, institutional accountability and due diligence,” it reads.
It also said that Every publication shall be evaluated to ensure that it contributes positively to the intellectual, moral and holistic development of students, promotes national integration, scientific temper, responsible citizenship and respect for the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India and is consistent with the Constitution of India, the laws in force and the educational objectives of the Higher Education Department.
“No publication containing misleading, distorted, unlawful, discriminatory, inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate material, or any content that directly or indirectly promotes, glorifies or legitimizes terrorism, violent extremism, secessionism, radicalization or activities prejudicial to the sovereignty, unity, integrity or security of India, shall be recommended for procurement, circulation or continued retention in the Universities of J&K,” reads the order.
JKHED also said that for ensuring a robust, transparent and accountable framework for the academic scrutiny, content verification, post-procurement quality assurance, identification of deficiencies and recommendation of appropriate corrective measures in respect of educational material procured for use in the Universities an Institutional Mechanism is established under these SOPs.
The mechanism will comprise a committee at the university level entrusted with clearly defined responsibilities for academic scrutiny, content verification, quality assurance and monitoring.
“The committee shall function in close coordination to ensure that educational material introduced in universities is academically sound, factually accurate, pedagogically appropriate, legally compliant and consistent with the constitutional values, educational objectives and policy framework of the Higher Education Department,” it reads.
JKHED said that the composition of the academic and content audit committee of the university shall be headed by Vice Chancellor of the University who will act as chairperson of the committee followed by representative of the Higher Education Department (not below the rank of additional secretary, registrar of the university, Dean Academic Affairs, Head of the Department/Dean of the School, Librarian of the University (Member Secretary), One Subject Expert (to be nominated by the Vice Chancellor).
The committee shall conduct Annual Academic and Content Audit; undertake preliminary scrutiny of educational material; prepare audit reports; recommend retention, review or withdrawal of publications.
The concerned committee shall specifically examine relevance to existing academic programmes and courses and relevance to teaching, research and emerging areas of study.
JKHED further said that the concerned committee shall examine the academic credibility of the author, editor and publisher and shall check the factual accuracy and scholarly authenticity.
The department also directed the concerned committee to examine the latest edition, version and continued academic relevance and the duplication of existing resources—(KNO)