Jadavpur University has established a three-member committee to investigate a complaint from a student who alleged she was asked to partially remove her hijab by an invigilator during a semester examination. The panel has been directed to submit its findings within 30 days.
Details of the Alleged Incident
The controversy stems from an incident reported to have occurred on December 23. A third-year English student claimed in her complaint that during her mid-semester exam, an invigilator instructed her to partially take off her hijab to check for concealed headphones. The student further alleged that the invigilator posed several unrelated personal questions to her about her choice to wear the religious head covering.
According to the student's account, the check was conducted in a separate room in the presence of the Head of the Department and a female research scholar. No electronic devices were found during this inspection. Students from the English department, in a letter to Vice-Chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharjee, stated that the student was "singled out and accused of cheating because she was wearing a hijab" and was asked to unpin it in the examination hall in front of other examinees.
University's Response and Committee Formation
In response to the escalating situation, the university's acting registrar issued a statement on Monday confirming the formation of the fact-finding committee. The committee is chaired by Prof. Syed Tanveer Nasreen from the Department of History at Burdwan University. The other members are Prof. Subarna Kumar Das from Jadavpur University's Department of Library & Information Science and Padmasree Kazi Masum Akhtar, the Chancellor’s Nominee to the Executive Council.
The university has found itself navigating a sensitive issue, balancing exam integrity with religious rights. A university official provided context, noting that at least four students were caught cheating during the current semester examinations using headphones, and none were from minority communities. On the same day as the alleged hijab incident, another student wearing a hoodie was apprehended for cheating.
Political Reactions and Broader Context
The Jadavpur University Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMC student wing) submitted a formal letter to the Vice-Chancellor demanding a thorough investigation. Their letter emphasized that the Constitution of India guarantees the right to practice and profess religion and called the alleged humiliation a "grave violation" of constitutional rights. They expressed solidarity with the student and stressed the need to preserve a secular academic environment.
The official also clarified that invigilators checked only those they found suspicious, adding that other students wearing hijabs, including one with a physical disability, were not checked during the exams. This detail highlights the selective nature of the check that has sparked the controversy.
The formation of the fact-finding committee is a critical step for Jadavpur University as it seeks to address the allegations transparently. The outcome of the probe, due within a month, will be closely watched for its implications on campus policy, religious freedom, and examination security.
