Jamia University Suspends Professor Over Exam Question On ‘Atrocities Against Muslim Minorities’

Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has found itself at the centre of a storm after a faculty member was suspended for setting a controversial examination question that sparked outrage across social media platforms. The incident has prompted the university administration to initiate a formal inquiry.

The uproar stems from a 15-mark question included in the BA (Hons) Social Work first-semester paper titled Social Problems in India. The question asked students to "discuss the atrocities against Muslim minorities in India, giving suitable examples." The paper was prepared by Prof. Virendra Balaji Shahare, whose role as examiner has now come under scrutiny, according to a report in NDTV.

Following the issue, an inquiry committee has been constituted to investigate how the question was drafted, approved, and eventually made its way into the examination. Pending the committee's findings, Prof. Shahare has been suspended.

An official order, signed by officiating registrar CA Sheikh Safiullah, confirmed the suspension "till further orders." The directive also specified that the professor's headquarters during the suspension period would remain New Delhi, and he would not be permitted to leave without prior approval from the competent authority.

The controversy quickly spilled beyond campus walls after images of the question paper began circulating online earlier this week. Social media users expressed sharp criticism, with many alleging that the phrasing of the question reflected political or communal bias. The debate intensified when Kanchan Gupta, senior adviser to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, shared the suspension order on X (formerly Twitter). Gupta accused the paper setter of "malicious intent," noting that Jamia Millia Islamia, as a central university with a diverse student body, must uphold neutrality in academic discourse.

While the university has refrained from issuing a detailed public statement beyond the suspension order, insiders suggest that the inquiry committee will examine whether the question violated institutional norms or examination guidelines. The committee's findings are expected to determine whether further disciplinary measures will be taken against Prof. Shahare.

The incident highlights the delicate balance universities must maintain between academic freedom and institutional responsibility. In a country where issues of religion and minority rights are deeply sensitive, the framing of examination questions can carry significant weight. For Jamia Millia Islamia, the episode has become a test of its ability to navigate controversy while safeguarding its reputation as a premier institution of higher learning.

As the inquiry proceeds, the case continues to generate debate both within academic circles and on social media, reflecting broader concerns about the intersection of education, politics, and communal harmony in India.