Above: Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi campus.

The Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in Delhi has constituted a committee  and sought a report within 10 days, on the circumstances that led to a “highly offensive” question ” with a communal overtone became part of the question paper for third semester LLB students in the exam held on December 7.

The Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia too has sought a report into the matter pertaining to a question in a law exam paper asking whether a Muslim slaughtering a cow in the presence of Hindus amounts to an offence. The question read thus: Ahmed, a Muslim, kills a cow in a market in the presence of Rohit, Tushar, Manav and Rahul, who are Hindus. Has Ahmed committed any offence?”

Supreme Court lawyer Bilal Anwar tweeted about the question and shared a screenshot of the question paper. He also wrote an email to the college and the varsity authorities objecting to the question and demanded action against “such vilification”. Said he:” “The nature of question paper is highly derogatory in its form and nature against particular class and community.”, he said.

On December 9, he posted on Twitter, “Here is a new normal, De-humanising an entire community, A Law College at Narela, NCR’s Third Semester Question Paper… Is this what you are making the young legal minds to feel normal about? categorically referring communities in your question papers?”

The varsity officials said that the question has been deleted. “No marks will be awarded for the question. Those who are setting the question paper will be issued an advisory that such questions are not asked in the future. If anyone is found guilty in the matter, they can be debarred from the examination process,” said a varsity official.

 –India Legal Bureau