SRINAGAR: A professor at Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has been suspended after a question set in a semester examination triggered widespread controversy and criticism on social media, NDTV reported, citing university officials.
The university has also constituted an inquiry committee to examine the matter, taking what it described as a serious view of alleged negligence and lack of due diligence on the part of the faculty member concerned.
The controversy stems from a 15-mark question in the BA (Hons) Social Work first-semester examination held earlier this week, in a paper titled Social Problems in India. The question asked students to discuss “atrocities against Muslim minorities in India”, citing suitable examples.
The question paper was set by Prof Virendra Balaji Shahare, who was placed under suspension following complaints, pending the outcome of the inquiry.
“An inquiry committee has been formed to examine the issue. Until the committee submits its report, the concerned professor has been placed under suspension,” a university official told NDTV, adding that the action was taken to uphold academic responsibility and institutional discipline.
An order issued by officiating registrar CA Sheikh Safiullah, and circulated on social media, confirmed that the suspension would remain in force “till further orders”. It also stated that Prof Shahare’s headquarters during the suspension period would be New Delhi and that he would not leave the headquarters without prior permission of the competent authority.
The order further mentioned that a police FIR would be filed “as per rules”. However, university officials later clarified that there was no proposal at present to register any police case against the professor and that the matter was being examined internally.
“There is no proposal to file any police case against the faculty member. The issue is being looked into by an internal committee,” an official said, seeking to clear confusion arising from the wording of the order.
Images of the question paper began circulating on social media on Monday, drawing sharp reactions, with several users questioning the appropriateness of the wording and alleging political or communal bias.
The matter gained further traction after Kanchan Gupta, senior adviser to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, shared the suspension order on X, criticising the question and alleging malicious intent.
Jamia Millia Islamia suspends Social Work Dept professor for extremely provocative and communally polarising question in Semester 1 question paper. Inquiry ordered. FIR being filed.
JMI is a Central University with a mixed student community. The question shows malicious intent. pic.twitter.com/GSHzJOsg2o— Kanchan Gupta 🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) December 23, 2025
Jamia Millia Islamia has not issued a detailed public statement beyond the suspension order. Sources said the inquiry committee will examine how the question was framed and approved, and whether it violated university norms or examination guidelines. The findings of the committee are expected to determine the next course of action.
