Archive · 8 Jan 2026
Jadavpur University Professor on Leave Amid Hijab Controversy
A professor at Jadavpur University in Kolkata asked two students to remove their hijabs during an exam because she thought they might be cheating.
The students and some others said this was unfair and accused the professor of being mean to Muslim students.
The university then asked the professor to take a break from work until the end of January while they look into what happened.
Some people think the professor was just doing her job, but others think she was wrong.
This is part of a bigger argument in India about whether students should be allowed to wear hijabs in school.
Professor Saswati Halder asked two hijabi students to remove their hijabs during an exam on 22nd December due to suspicions of cheating.
The students and some faculty members accused Halder of Islamophobia and harassment, leading to an investigation.
Halder was asked to take a leave of absence from 7th January to 30th January 2024 pending the investigation.
The West Bengal Minorities Commission and a university committee are looking into the incident.
Some colleagues and the Jadavpur University Teachers Association criticized the university's action, while others supported the students' complaints.
- Who
- Professor Saswati Halder, head of the English department at Jadavpur University, and two hijabi students.
- What
- Professor Halder asked two students to remove their hijabs during an exam due to suspicions of cheating, leading to a controversy and her subsequent leave.
- When
- The incident occurred on 22nd December 2023, and the leave was effective from 7th January to 30th January 2024.
- Where
- Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India.
- Why
- The students and some faculty members accused Halder of Islamophobia and harassment, leading to an investigation and her leave.
- Professor Involved
- Saswati Halder
- University
- Jadavpur University, Kolkata
- Incident Date
- 22nd December 2023
- Leave Period
- 7th January to 30th January 2024
- Committee Chairperson
- Syed Tanveer Nasreen
- Commission Chairman
- Imran Ahmed
- Students' Group
- Students Federation of India (SFI)
- University Body
- Jadavpur University Teachers Association (JUTA)