ACC probes illegal guidebook trade

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has begun an investigation against the publishers who are illegally selling notebooks and guidebooks for primary- and secondary-level students.

The anti-graft body has taken the steps after receiving complaints against a section of the publishing companies are still printing and marketing the notebooks and guidebooks though the corresponding act has prohibited selling of such books, sources said.

An ACC team led by one of its directors Nasim Anwar went to different book markets at capital’s Nilkhet and found illegal notebooks of different subjects from Class II to Class XII at many bookstores.

According to to the Notebook Prohibition Act of 1980, no person shall print, publish, import, sell, distribute or in any manner put into circulation or keep for printing, publication, sale, distribution or circulation of any notebook.

A High Court bench in its verdict in 2008 said that not only notebooks but also guidebooks would be banned.

Later, the notebook publishers filed a writ with the Supreme Court against the HC verdict. But the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court dismissed the petition.