Hindu professor forced on leave for asking a Muslim student to remove hijab after suspected cheating in an exam

Incident at Jadavpur University in Bengal
Demand to remove professor from post, accusing her of being anti-Islam

(Hijab: a garment worn by Muslim women to cover the head and neck)

Kolkata – An incident occurred at Jadavpur University on 22 December 2025 in which English professor Shashwati Haldar allegedly asked a Muslim female student to remove her hijab on suspicion of cheating during an examination. Following this incident, the Student Federation of India accused the professor of anti-Islamic behaviour by climbing onto the dais during the university’s convocation ceremony and raising slogans against her.

To investigate the matter, a six-member team of the West Bengal Minorities Commission (WBMC) visited the university on 30 December. The team held discussions with the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar, and student representatives. Commission Chairman Imran Ahmed stated that forcing a student to remove her hijab was wrong and unacceptable. He also demanded the dismissal of Professor Shashwati Haldar from service for her alleged role in the incident.

Stand of the University Committee

Jadavpur University constituted a five-member committee to enquire into the controversy. On January 6, the committee recorded statements from the student and the English professor. After the statements were taken, the committee chairperson, Syed Tanvi Nasrin, demanded the removal of the professor from her post. However, this demand was opposed by Kazi Masoom Akhtar, a nominee of the Chancellor on the university’s Executive Council and also a member of the committee. He stated that removing the professor before the completion of the enquiry would amount to humiliation and would send a wrong message to society. Subsequently, Professor Shashwati Haldar was placed on compulsory leave from January 7 to January 30, pending the completion of the enquiry.

Professor Haldar clarified, “I was only performing my duty.”