A professor at Jamia Millia Islamia University has been suspended after strong public backlash erupted over a question in an undergraduate examination that asked students to write about alleged atrocities against Muslim minorities in India. The controversy emerged late last week when images of the BA Social Work first-semester exam paper dated December 21 circulated widely online. Many critics described the 15-mark question as inflammatory and socially divisive, especially considering the diverse nature of the university campus.

The question paper had been prepared by Professor Virendra Balaji Shahare of the Department of Social Work. Although it had passed the department’s initial review process, university officials later described the inclusion of the question as an act of negligence. The incident quickly drew the attention of both the public and government circles, with senior government advisor Kanchan Gupta publicly condemning the question as highly provocative.

Responding swiftly, the university administration suspended Shahare on December 23 while an inquiry committee investigates the matter. The suspension order, signed by acting registrar Nausheen Chenoy, also restricts the professor from leaving Delhi without official permission and indicates that a police complaint will be filed. The university is now examining how the question was approved in the first place, and Shahare’s future at the institution will depend on the outcome of the investigation.

The episode has revived broader debates about academic responsibility and the handling of sensitive social issues in educational institutions. Jamia Millia Islamia, known for its focus on social awareness and critical studies, now faces renewed scrutiny over how it balances open academic discussion with the need for neutrality in an increasingly polarized environment. As discussions continue across social media platforms, the case highlights the growing challenges faced by educators when addressing complex and sensitive topics in contemporary India.