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High Court of Orissa
The Orissa High Court has taken note of serious allegations over the selection of books for college libraries in Odisha, directing the Higher Education Department to review the process.
The move follows complaints by a major publishers’ body, citing bias and procedural lapses in the book procurement list.
HC Issues Directive on Book Selection Dispute
Justice B.P. Routray of the Orissa High Court has ordered the Secretary of the Higher Education Department to examine the complaint filed by the Kalinga Publishers and Booksellers Association (KPBA) within 30 days.
The court has also suggested that the ongoing distribution of the selected books may be paused until the review is complete.
Petition Points to Alleged Bias and Collusion
The KPBA approached the court, alleging that the official booklist showed favouritism towards a few publishers.
Out of hundreds of approved books, around 350 titles reportedly belong to just five publishers, raising red flags on transparency.
Publishers Allege Omission of Crucial Information
The grievance highlights that the booklist includes titles and authors but omits the names of publishers.
The association believes this omission was intentional to hide the concentration of titles from a handful of sources.
Formal Complaint Sent to Higher Education Department
On June 9, 2025, KPBA submitted a formal letter to the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Higher Education Department.
The letter demanded cancellation of the current booklist and an independent inquiry into the selection committee’s functioning.
Call for Accountability and Transparency
KPBA President Joy Krishna Mohapatra stressed the need for disciplinary action against those allegedly involved in the irregularities.
The association claimed that some publishers had formed a nexus with officials to dominate the selection process.
Moreover, the stakeholders are now calling for greater transparency, fair representation of publishers, and a more accountable selection mechanism.