‘Negligence, carelessness’: Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia suspends professor, orders probe over exam question on ‘atrocities against minorities’

NEW DELHi: Jamia Millia Islamia has suspended a professor and ordered an inquiry after images of a semester examination question paper triggered objections on social media. The paper, set for the BA (Hons) Social Work Semester I examination, titled ‘Social Problems in India', asked students to "discuss the atrocities against Muslim minorities in India, giving suitable examples."

In an office order dated Dec 23, the university said it had received multiple complaints from various sources regarding the content of the end-semester examination paper for the 2025–26 academic session. The order identified a faculty member of the Department of Social Work as the paper setter and said the competent authority had taken a "serious view" of what it described as his "negligence and carelessness".


Invoking Statute 37(1) of the university's statutes, the vice-chancellor placed the professor under suspension with immediate effect pending the outcome of the inquiry. During the suspension period, his headquarters will remain New Delhi, and he has been directed not to leave without prior permission from the competent authority.

The question drew criticism from several quarters on social media. A student-run platform associated with Jawaharlal Nehru University shared images of the paper, questioning the appropriateness of the question and alleging ideological bias. The post objected to the framing of the question and linked it to alleged violence against Hindus in neighbouring Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) also circulated the question paper, describing it as a matter of "serious concern". DUTA alleged that the question promoted a "one-sided" narrative in a centrally funded university and called for an immediate review of the question paper and the syllabus. The association urged the education ministry and the University Grants Commission to take note of the issue.

Jamia Millia Islamia did not respond to queries seeking its official position, and the suspended professor could not be reached for comment.



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