JMI suspends social work professor over exam question on atrocities against Muslims, orders inquiry
New Delhi: Jamia Millia Islamia has suspended a faculty member from its Department of Social Work after objections were raised to a question in an end-of-semester examination paper that asked students to discuss atrocities against Muslim minorities in India.
The suspended teacher is identified as Prof. Virendra Balaji Shahare, who had set the BA (Hons) Social Work Semester-I examination paper for the course Social Problems in India for the 2025-26 academic session. University officials said multiple complaints were received from various quarters regarding the content of the question paper, prompting administrative action.
According to a Maktoob Media report, the university said, in an order issued on December 23, the competent authority had taken a serious view of what it described as negligence and carelessness on the part of the paper setter. Acting on the Vice-Chancellor’s directions and invoking Statute 37(1) of the university statutes, Prof. Shahare was placed under suspension with immediate effect, pending the outcome of a formal inquiry, stating that a police complaint would be filed in accordance with rules.
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During the period of suspension, Prof. Shahare has been directed to remain headquartered in New Delhi and has been barred from leaving without prior permission. Copies of the order have been sent to senior officials, including the dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, the head of the Department of Social Work and the Controller of Examinations.
While the university has not publicly clarified the precise nature of the objections to the examination question, it has triggered strong reactions on campus and beyond, with students, teachers and rights groups questioning the move.
Describing Professor Shahare as a committed teacher, Humaira Aftab, a former student of the department, said that the question was directly linked to the subject being taught and she further argued that examining the condition of minorities was central to understanding social problems. She also warned that the suspension could set a troubling precedent for academic discourse.
A faculty member from Jamia, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the action reflected a broader climate in which universities were under pressure to avoid questions that could lead to scrutiny of state policies or social realities, adding that institutional leaderships were increasingly constrained in defending academic autonomy.
Calling it an attack on academic freedom, the Jamia unit of the Fraternity Movement has also demanded the immediate revocation of the suspension. Cautioning that continued inaction could lead to collective protests by students, the group said in a statement, the examination question fell squarely within the scope of the course.
The inquiry against Prof. Shahare is yet to begin, while the suspension will remain in force until its completion.
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Karnataka gram panchayats achieve record 89 pc tax collection in 2025-26: Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka has achieved a significant milestone in grassroots governance, with 5,943 gram panchayats across the state recording higher tax collection and revenue realisation in 2025-26 compared to the previous financial year, Minister Priyank Kharge said on Thursday.
The Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj reported total tax collections of Rs 1,382.57 crore in 2025-26, marking an increase of Rs 110.04 crore over Rs 1,272.54 crore collected in 2024-25, the minister’s office said in a statement.
This represents a record 89 per cent realisation of the current demand, the highest in recent years, it added.
The Minister for Rural Development & Panchayat Raj said, “Our focus over the past few years has been on improving systems, ensuring accountability, and empowering local bodies to enhance their own revenue capabilities.”
“It is encouraging to see that every rupee collected is being reinvested into village infrastructure, public services, and local development. This is laying a strong foundation for inclusive and sustainable rural growth,” he added.
Karnataka had previously secured the top position at the national level in tax collection and revenue mobilisation, and the continued upward trend highlights the impact of efficient administration, strict enforcement of regulations, and strengthened tax collection mechanisms.
In 2024-25, gram panchayats had, for the first time in the department’s history, collected Rs 1,272.54 crore, achieving 80 per cent of the current demand.
Building on this momentum, the state further improved performance in 2025–26, reaching a record 89 per cent collection efficiency, the statement said.
This achievement has been driven by extensive awareness campaigns, targeted tax collection drives, and the sustained efforts of officials at all levels—from gram panchayat bill collectors to senior administrators, the minister said, congratulating all staff and officers for their contribution.
Highlighting district-level performance, Priyank noted that Raichur district recorded an exceptional 129 per cent tax collection, while 11 districts across the state achieved over 100 per cent collection, demonstrating strong local-level execution and compliance.
Over the past three years, Karnataka has witnessed a steady upward trend in tax collection. The increased revenue is being channelled into public works, improved civic services, and local development initiatives, contributing to the overall progress of rural communities, he added.
