Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University has taken disciplinary action against a professor following significant backlash over the content of a recent examination paper. The faculty member from the Department of Social Work has been suspended pending an official inquiry.
Immediate Suspension Ordered
The university's decision came swiftly after it received multiple complaints regarding an end-semester exam paper for the B.A. (Hons) Social Work programme, Semester I, for the 2025–26 academic session. The paper, titled "Social Problems in India," was set by Prof. Virendra Balaji Shahare.
An order dated 23 December confirmed the suspension. The vice-chancellor invoked Statute 37(1) of the Statutes of the University to place Prof. Shahare under suspension with immediate effect. According to the suspension letter, the professor must remain in New Delhi during this period and cannot leave the city without prior permission from the competent authority.
The Controversial Question
The core of the controversy was a specific question that asked students to "discuss the atrocities against Muslim minorities in India, giving suitable examples." This framing drew sharp criticism from various quarters, who alleged it presented a one-sided narrative.
Saima Saeed, Chief Public Relations Officer of JMI, stated that the university found "negligence and carelessness" on the part of the professor. She confirmed, "The professor has been put under suspension and an inquiry committee has been set up."
Widespread Reaction and Calls for Review
The question paper quickly circulated on social media, amplifying the debate. A student-run platform linked to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) shared images of the paper, questioning its appropriateness and suggesting an ideological bias. The post further connected the question to reports of violence against Hindus in neighbouring Bangladesh.
Adding institutional weight to the criticism, the Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) also circulated the paper, labelling it a matter of "serious concern." DUTA argued that the question promoted a one-sided view in a centrally funded university and called for an immediate review of both the question paper and the broader syllabus.
The teachers' body has urged the Education Ministry and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to take note of the incident. The university's inquiry committee is now tasked with investigating the matter fully, which will determine the professor's future at the institution.
