Jadavpur University Hijab Row: Appeasement at its lowest; English professor penalised for following rules in exam hall

Kolkata: In a recent controversy at Jadavpur University, Professor Saswati Halder, Head of the English Department, has been asked to go on leave until the end of January following protests over an exam-related incident. The action came after students and activists accused her of “Islamophobia” for requesting a Muslim student to partially remove her hijab during an exam on suspicion of cheating. The BJP criticised the TMC government for prioritising vote-bank politics over institutional rules and academic integrity, calling the decision to ask the professor to go on leave an example of “appeasement.”

At Jadavpur University, an English HOD is sent on leave for asking a Muslim student to partially remove hijab during an exam on suspicion of cheating after protests led by the commie union Students’ Federation of India branding it “Islamophobia”.

West Bengal Minorities… pic.twitter.com/GGoxxOiKk7

— Prasanna Viswanathan (@prasannavishy) January 7, 2026

The incident took place on December 22, 2025, when Professor Halder asked two third-year undergraduate students to remove their hijabs to ensure the integrity of the exam. The professor has stated that the request was made privately, in the presence of a female batchmate, and that no other hijab-wearing students were subjected to similar scrutiny. She emphasised that the action was strictly to prevent cheating and maintain academic standards.

Despite her explanation, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) staged protests, branding the professor’s action as “Islamophobic.” The West Bengal Minorities Commission also stepped in, calling the incident “profiling” and demanding appropriate action. Following this, a five-member fact-finding committee was formed by JU to probe the matter.

Professor Halder reportedly applied for leave from January 7 to 30, citing personal reasons, but officials said the decision came under pressure due to student protests and university directives. The Vice-Chancellor, Chiranjib Bhattacharjee, reportedly suggested that it was best for her to step aside temporarily until the inquiry was completed.

The Bharatiya Janata Party sharply criticised the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal over the incident, accusing it of “appeasement.”

Appeasement at its lowest by Mamata Banerjee.

An English professor at Jadavpur University has been asked to go on leave for doing her duty. Her “fault”? Asking a student to remove her hijab briefly during an examination to verify identity, a standard and reasonable procedure… pic.twitter.com/GyG3CxWX4x

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) January 8, 2026

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya said that Professor Halder had been penalised for performing her duty, describing the request to temporarily remove a hijab during an exam as a standard procedure to verify identity.

“Appeasement at its lowest by Mamata Banerjee,” Malviya wrote on X. “An English professor at Jadavpur University has been asked to go on leave for doing her duty. Her ‘fault’? Asking a student to remove her hijab briefly during an examination to verify identity is a standard and reasonable procedure followed in exam halls.”

Malviya further alleged that instead of upholding institutional rules and academic integrity, the state government had prioritised “vote-bank politics.” He said, “This is not secularism. This is a surrender of common sense and university autonomy at the altar of vote-bank politics. When identity verification becomes ‘offensive,’ and teachers are punished for upholding rules, the message is clear: appeasement comes first, education and fairness last.”

In 2022, the Karnataka hijab controversy saw several Muslim students barred from attending college classes while wearing hijabs, sparking widespread protests and a legal battle that eventually reached the Supreme Court. Critics argued that such bans amounted to discrimination against religious expression, while supporters cited the need to uphold uniform policies and institutional discipline. Across India, similar classroom tensions have occasionally emerged, with teachers and administrators facing backlash for actions perceived as targeting Muslim students, often in the context of examinations, dress codes, or classroom rules, highlighting the ongoing challenge of balancing institutional regulations with respect for religious freedoms.

Credit : Organiser Weekly