Five officials from the Directorate of Public Libraries in Tamil Nadu have been suspended following allegations of significant irregularities in the procurement of books for government libraries, including the Periyar Aruvulagam in Coimbatore. The suspensions were ordered by School Education Minister A Rajmohan, four days after the Madras High Court directed the government to initiate disciplinary proceedings and the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to register a First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the matter.
Allegations of Fabricated Content and Inflated Prices
The controversy first came to light when acclaimed writer Perumal Murugan highlighted issues concerning the books acquired for the newly inaugurated Periyar Arivulagam library. Murugan pointed out that many of the procured books contained fabricated references, questionable authorship, fictitious information, and even AI-generated content. Furthermore, allegations suggest that these books were purchased at prices significantly inflated compared to current market rates.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the procurement process involved AI-generated publications, books with fictitious information, fake author names, and titles with questionable ISBNs. This revelation has sparked a political debate, with the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) trading accusations.
Scope of Irregularities and Official Action
The scale of the alleged irregularities appears substantial, with the department identifying approximately 71,000 questionable books across various libraries in the state. At the Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai, over 300 such books were reportedly found, with procurement exercises dating back to 2022. The books in question included publications with discrepancies in their ISBN details and author names.
The suspended officials include key personnel from major libraries such as the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai and the Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai. Notably, the Chief Accounts Officer of the Directorate of Public Libraries and the Chief Librarian and Information Officer of the Anna Centenary Library were members of the Book Procurement Negotiation Committee. While sources suggest an internal inquiry preceded the suspensions, the department has not publicly disclosed the details or findings of any such inquiry.
Judicial and Investigative Scrutiny
The Madras High Court’s intervention has intensified the scrutiny on the book procurement process. The court’s directive for an FIR registration and its advice to the Tamil Nadu government to initiate disciplinary action against officials involved underscores the seriousness of the allegations. The DVAC has since launched a detailed inquiry, examining documents related to book purchases at the Periyar Arivulagam and other libraries, including the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai. Sleuths have reportedly perused records and taken copies for investigation.
The controversy also led to the cancellation of book procurement orders for the under-construction Kamarajar Grand Library and Intellectual Centre in Tiruchi. Publishers who had submitted their publications for this library have been asked to retrieve their stock.
Background of the Procurement Policy
The procurement of books for libraries, including the Periyar Arivulagam, was governed by a Government Order issued on November 5, 2025. This order outlined the policy for acquiring books and e-books for the Periyar Arivulagam and central libraries in six newly created districts. The policy was intended to ensure transparent book procurement through a multi-tier selection mechanism, involving expert committees, selection committees, price negotiation committees, and scrutiny committees. However, allegations suggest that this established process was bypassed, leading to the inclusion of questionable publications.
The construction of the Periyar Arivulagam library itself was initiated during the DMK regime at a cost of approximately ₹300 crore. The library was inaugurated by Chief Minister Vijay after the TVK party came to power. The current allegations have led to a political standoff, with both the ruling party and the opposition levelling charges of corruption against each other.
The Chenab Times News Desk
