According to the sources in the Education department, officials have tied up with city-based Manchanda Publishers for the supply of books, but the latter has failed to provide adequate number of books.

Talking to Newsline, one of the sales people from Manchanda Book Store in Sector 19 said, “We have got the orders to provide them with the books. As far as the shortage is concerned, it is a regular feature and every year we face the same problem.”

Meanwhile, all the other book publishers in the city have been ruled out from providing the books up to Class VIII reasons best known to the Education department.

Ramesh Chander, the owner of Ramesh Book Depot in Sector 23 said, “The decision has definitely caused a loss to the book publishers and as far as the list of books is concerned we received it only the day before yesterday though the academic session began on April 1.”

As far as the school officials are concerned, they are confused with the department’s decision and are not clear about the subjects, which will be taught in this academic session.

Also, the plans of Education department for starting up with a depot of their own to supply the NCERT books has gone for a six. Commenting one of the principals from a government school said, “We are confused about the books and syllabus. The book list that should have been released 15 days before the academic session started was done just a couple of days ago. It is really causing harassment to the students and also to their parents”.

It is important to mention here that earlier the department had been refused copyright by the NCERT. Also the supply of a few books for Class VIII are short with the city bookstores.