The Tamil Nadu government has cancelled book procurement tenders worth Rs 30 crore for the Kamarajar Grand Library and Intellectual Centre in Tiruchirappalli after allegations of irregularities in the purchase of books for public libraries across the state.
The tender cancellation order was issued on November 6, according to Tiruchirappalli District Library Officer Shan Basha. The library and intellectual centre is under construction at an estimated cost of Rs 290 crore, making the procurement decision a significant part of a larger public infrastructure project.
The book tender had been initiated during the previous DMK-led regime. Its cancellation follows allegations that fake and substandard books were supplied to the Periyar Grand Library in Coimbatore. The allegations also included claims that some books had been generated using Artificial Intelligence, although the supplied report does not provide details of any official finding establishing those claims.
The complaints have prompted the state government to place book procurement activities on hold for several newly established public libraries. These include the Bharathidasan Knowledge Centre in Salem, the Anjalai Ammal Knowledge Centre in Cuddalore and the Quaid-e-Millath Library in Tirunelveli.
The developments place procurement controls at the centre of Tamil Nadu’s expanding public library infrastructure programme. While construction creates the physical capacity for new knowledge centres, the cancellation shows that the functioning of such facilities also depends on transparent systems for selecting, verifying and purchasing books. The immediate issue is not only the delay to filling library shelves, but also how public funds are screened when procurement involves large volumes of specialised material.
The state government has ordered an investigation by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption into alleged irregularities and corruption in the procurement of books for public libraries. The investigation is expected to examine the complaints and the procurement process, though the supplied report does not specify its terms of reference or a completion timeline.
Sources in the Tamil Nadu government said a new transparent book procurement policy would be introduced to prevent similar irregularities in the future. No further details of the proposed policy, including its approval process, evaluation criteria or implementation date, were provided in the report. The next formal developments will depend on the DVAC investigation and the government’s proposed procurement framework.
