Jamia exam question on ‘atrocities against Muslims’ sparks outrage, professor suspended

A controversy over alleged ideological bias has erupted at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) after the central university suspended a faculty member and launched a formal inquiry over an examination question that critics say presupposed communal conclusions rather than encouraging objective analysis.

The episode has reignited a wider debate on academic neutrality, the limits of academic freedom and the responsibility of publicly funded universities to maintain balance in politically and communally sensitive subjects.

Exam question triggers backlash

The row centres on a Semester 1 examination paper for the BA (Honours) Social Work programme, titled Social Work: History, Philosophy and Fields of Practice (BSW-102). One optional question, carrying 15 marks, asked students to “Discuss atrocities against Muslim minorities in India, giving suitable examples”.

The paper was first shared publicly on December 22 by journalist Swati Goel Sharma, who criticised the wording for assuming the existence of atrocities rather than framing the topic as an open-ended inquiry. She contrasted the question with recent cases of violence against Hindus, including the killing of Ram Gopal Mishra during a Durga Puja procession in Uttar Pradesh, arguing that the exam encouraged a one-sided narrative.

Online criticism quickly escalated, with commentators questioning how such a question had passed internal scrutiny in a central university funded by the Indian government.

University acts swiftly

By December 23, Jamia Millia Islamia identified Associate Professor Virendra Balaji Shahare of the Department of Social Work as the paper setter. The university placed him under immediate suspension and constituted an internal inquiry committee to examine how the question was approved and whether it conformed to the prescribed syllabus.

The university also initiated the process of filing a First Information Report, describing the question as “extremely provocative and communally polarising”. In its statement, JMI said such content risked undermining harmony on a diverse campus and ran counter to the institution’s responsibility to provide balanced education.

University officials indicated that the inquiry would also examine whether the issue reflected a deeper problem in course design or oversight mechanisms within the department.

Political and public reactions intensify

The incident triggered strong reactions from political groups, civil society organisations and social media users. Critics demanded audits of Jamia’s curriculum and questioned whether central funding should continue if ideological bias was allowed to creep into teaching and assessment.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad described the question as a conspiracy against academic impartiality and called on the Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission to intervene. Several commentators also highlighted Jamia’s reservation policies, arguing that perceptions of institutional bias are compounded when questions of representation and neutrality intersect.

Others focused on academic integrity, pointing out that the question appeared to begin with a conclusion rather than inviting students to examine evidence, debate interpretations or consider multiple perspectives. Some users argued that such framing violates basic principles of social science education.

Broader debate on neutrality in higher education

The controversy comes at a time when universities across India are under heightened scrutiny over curriculum content, ideological balance and the politicisation of classrooms. Supporters of strict action argue that publicly funded institutions must be held to higher standards of neutrality, especially when dealing with sensitive communal issues.

At the same time, some academics have cautioned against overreach, warning that disciplinary action should not create a chilling effect on genuine scholarly inquiry. They argue the focus should remain on improving question-setting processes and peer review rather than criminalising academic lapses.

As of now, the inquiry at Jamia Millia Islamia is ongoing, and no formal response has been issued by the Ministry of Education. The episode, however, has already sharpened a larger national conversation on how universities balance academic freedom with social responsibility in an increasingly polarised environment.