Thu Dec 25 19:59:39 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) is protesting the suspension of a Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) professor. The professor was suspended after setting a BA (Hons.) Social Work exam question about atrocities against Muslims in India. JMI cited a social media backlash calling the question “polarizing and communal” as the reason for the suspension and has launched an inquiry. JNUTA argues the question was legitimate within the context of the course, and the suspension constitutes an “academic witch-hunt” that stifles academic debate and freedom of thought.
News Article:
JNU Teachers Condemn Suspension of JMI Professor Over Exam Question
New Delhi – December 26, 2025: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) has issued a strong condemnation of the suspension of a Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) professor following controversy over an exam question concerning atrocities against Muslims in India.
The professor, who remains unnamed in university statements, had posed the question on a BA (Hons.) Social Work semester examination. The JMI administration suspended the professor on December 23rd, pending the findings of an inquiry committee. University officials stated the action was prompted by a wave of criticism on social media, with many deeming the question “polarizing and communal.”
In a statement released late Wednesday, the JNUTA characterized the suspension as an “academic witch-hunt,” arguing that questioning and debate are fundamental to academic inquiry. The association argued the question was “perfectly legitimate” within the context of a course addressing social problems in India.
“The JNUTA demands a stop to what can be described as the beginning of an academic witch-hunt that can only sound the death knell of an institution of higher learning,” the statement reads. The association further emphasized that policing academic thought based on specific narratives undermines the spirit of critical inquiry and compromises the integrity of a university.
The suspension has sparked a debate over academic freedom and the limits of permissible discourse within educational institutions. The outcome of the JMI inquiry is being closely watched by academics across the country.
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