On April 4, 2025, Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU) banned Professor Seema Panwar, the head of the university’s political science department, from all examination and evaluation work. The move followed a politicized outcry over exam questions considered critical of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindu nationalist political organization.
On April 2, CCSU held final year examinations for the MA political science program. After the exam, Akhil Bharatiya Vidharthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS, claimed that two questions on the exam implied that the RSS was “alienated from society” and that the RSS was linked to the rise of religious and caste identity politics. They also argued that Professor Panwar, who was responsible for creating the exam questions, held “anti-national” sentiment. Two days later, ABVP members staged a protest on campus and submitted a memorandum to the university which demanded that the university take action against Professor Panwar.
Hours after the protest took place, Dhirendra Kumar Verma, registrar at CCSU, debarred Professor Panwar from all examination and evaluation work for life. Professor Panwar also submitted a written apology where she explained that the exam questions, including those mentioning the RSS, were based on a book authorized under the CCSU curriculum.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about a university altering professional academic responsibilities in response to public pressure. External actors, including government officials and political actors have a right to free expression, but should not be permitted to impose undue pressure on universities’ academic decisions, including those relating to the duties of academic personnel. Universities should take measures to ensure, wherever possible, that such decisions remain free from outside pressure and are driven solely by academic considerations. Such actions undermine university autonomy and inhibit institutions’ ability to function freely, undermining academic freedom and democratic society generally.
Sources:
https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/meerut-college-professor-banned-from-exam-and-evaluation-work-for-objectionable-questions-on-rss-3478976
https://thewire.in/politics/abvp-question-anti-national-rss-up-professor
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/meerut-college-professor-banned-for-life-from-exam-duties-over-questions-on-rss/articleshow/119999617.cms
https://maktoobmedia.com/india/up-professor-banned-for-life-from-exam-duties-after-abvp-protested-objectionable-questions-on-rss/?utm_source=chatgpt.com