Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi has taken swift disciplinary action against a faculty member following a significant controversy over a question paper. The university suspended a professor from its Department of Social Work and ordered a formal inquiry after images of a semester examination paper circulated on social media, triggering widespread objections.
Controversial Question Sparks Immediate Backlash
The incident revolves around a question paper set for the BA (Hons) Social Work Semester I examination for the 2025–26 academic session. The paper, titled ‘Social Problems in India’, included a question that asked students to "discuss the atrocities against Muslim minorities in India, giving suitable examples." This specific framing quickly drew sharp criticism from various quarters online.
A student-run platform linked to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) was among the first to highlight the issue, sharing images of the paper. The platform questioned the appropriateness of the question and alleged it displayed a clear ideological bias. The criticism extended beyond the question's content, with some social media users linking it to reports of alleged violence against Hindus in neighbouring Bangladesh.
University Takes Stern Action
In response to the mounting complaints, the university administration acted decisively. On December 23, it issued an official order acknowledging it had received multiple complaints regarding the examination paper's content. The order identified a faculty member from the Department of Social Work as the paper setter and stated that the competent authority had taken a "serious view" of what it termed his "negligence and carelessness."
Invoking Statute 37(1) of the university's statutes, the Vice-Chancellor placed the professor under suspension with immediate effect. This suspension will remain in force pending the outcome of the formal inquiry. During this period, the professor's headquarters are designated as New Delhi, and he has been instructed not to leave the city without obtaining prior permission from the university authorities.
Broader Academic Community Reacts
The controversy resonated beyond social media, catching the attention of academic bodies. The Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) circulated the question paper, labeling it a matter of "serious concern." DUTA alleged that the question promoted a "one-sided" narrative within a centrally funded university and called for an immediate review of both the question paper and the broader syllabus.
The teachers' association went a step further by urging the Education Ministry and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to take note of the issue. This call for external oversight underscores the perceived gravity of the incident within sections of the academic community.
As of now, Jamia Millia Islamia has not issued an official statement in response to media queries seeking its position on the matter. Attempts to reach the suspended professor for his comments have also been unsuccessful.
