An Assistant Professor from the Central University of Karnataka (CUK), Kalaburagi, is under investigation following allegations of coercing female students to wear the hijab during academic field visits. The university has launched an internal probe to address the concerns raised.
The accused, Abdul Majid from the Department of History and Archaeology, allegedly compelled students to wear the Islamic headscarf while leading educational tours to culturally significant sites in Kalaburagi and Bidar. Complainants noted that many of these sites were linked primarily to Muslim heritage, sparking discomfort among some students.
The matter came to light after the Legal Rights Protection Forum, a Hyderabad-based rights group, filed a formal complaint with CUK Vice-Chancellor Prof. Battu Satyanarayana. The forum called for strict disciplinary action against the professor, citing religious imposition.
University Registrar Rudragowda Patil confirmed the receipt of the complaint on July 26, 2025. He stated that A. Santosh, General Secretary of the Forum, had alleged that Prof. Majid forced students to wear hijabs and organized visits to mosques. Patil added that an inquiry committee has been constituted as per university protocols and action will be taken based on the panel’s findings.
The internal committee will now investigate the nature of the tours, the professor’s conduct, and whether university policies were breached.