Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University has suspended a faculty member and constituted an inquiry committee after an examination question on the experiences of Muslim minorities in India provoked widespread criticism. The question, included in the first semester examination paper for the Department of Social Work, was deemed “provocative” by some sections of students and public commentators, prompting swift administrative action.

The suspended professor, identified as Virendra Balaji Shahare of the Department of Social Work, had set the question in the BA (Hons) Social Work exam on the subject of Social Problems in India. The specific question, as reported by PTI and seen by HT, asked students to “Discuss the atrocities against Muslim minorities in India giving suitable examples.” While intended to prompt an academic discussion on social issues, the question drew immediate backlash on social media platforms, with critics arguing that it represented a biased or one-sided framing of historical and contemporary social challenges.

Following the uproar, JMI authorities suspended Prof. Shahare pending the outcome of an inquiry, with a formal committee tasked to examine the matter. According to officials, the professor’s headquarters remain in New Delhi, and he is not allowed to leave without prior approval from the competent authority. The university emphasized that the suspension reflects its commitment to accountability and a serious response to concerns raised by students and external observers.

The controversy has been fuelled by claims of “ideological imbalance” from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing affiliated with the RSS. Delhi state secretary Sarthak Sharma stated that the exam question presented society from a narrow perspective and suggested an underlying ideological bias. He argued that such framing contradicted the principles of academic neutrality and ran counter to the inclusive character of Indian society. “This is not merely an academic lapse but it also points to an ideological imbalance,” Sharma said, according to PTI.

The incident highlights the delicate balance universities must maintain between academic freedom and sensitivity to communal issues in a diverse country like India. While courses in social work and social sciences often encourage students to critically engage with questions of social justice, inequality, and minority experiences, the controversy demonstrates how questions perceived as partisan or inflammatory can quickly escalate into administrative and political issues.

JMI has not publicly confirmed the precise wording of the question but emphasized that it takes complaints seriously and has acted promptly to address the concerns. University officials noted that the inquiry committee will examine both the framing of the question and the broader context of its inclusion in the exam paper, and appropriate action will follow based on the committee’s recommendations.

The suspension has sparked debate on social media, with some defending academic freedom and the need for students to engage with difficult social realities, while others argue that framing questions in a way that singles out particular communities can foster division and misperception. Observers have noted that universities increasingly face scrutiny over content related to caste, religion, and minority communities, with political and student organizations monitoring academic discourse for perceived biases.

In addition to administrative action, the controversy has reignited discussions about the responsibilities of faculty members in presenting sensitive issues in a manner consistent with educational objectives and social harmony. Experts note that social work curricula inherently involve examining inequality, marginalization, and human rights concerns, and that these topics require careful contextualization to avoid misinterpretation.

The ABVP’s response underscores the political dimensions of campus debates in India, where student organizations often play a role in amplifying concerns regarding ideological content in teaching and examinations. The RSS-affiliated group has frequently criticized educational content it perceives as promoting narratives unfavorable to certain communities, emphasizing the need for a balanced and inclusive approach in academic settings.

While the inquiry is ongoing, the suspension of Prof. Shahare reflects JMI’s precautionary approach amid rising public scrutiny and political attention. University officials have indicated that the inquiry committee will ensure that due process is followed, evaluating the question’s academic validity alongside broader social and ethical considerations.

This incident adds to a growing list of cases in Indian higher education where faculty members face administrative or political challenges over the framing of sensitive topics in exams, research, or teaching. It raises questions about the boundaries of academic freedom, the role of student politics in influencing university decisions, and the responsibility of institutions to balance rigorous social science education with sensitivity to India’s diverse and multi-religious society.

As the investigation proceeds, stakeholders across academic, political, and social spheres are likely to continue debating the implications of the question, the suspension, and the wider tension between education, social justice, and communal sensitivities in India’s universities.