Jamia Millia Islamia Registrar Nazim Hussain Jafri forced Dalit employee to convert to Islam (Image: Organiser)
In a shocking turn of events, Ram Niwas Singh (Valmiki), a Dalit employee working as an Assistant in the Department of Natural Science at Jamia Millia Islamia, has accused several high-ranking University officials of serious misconduct. The allegations include undue pressure for religious conversion, caste-based slurs, and dehumanising treatment.
The accused are Professor Nazim Hussain Al-Jafri, the Official Registrar, M. Nasim Haider, Deputy Registrar, and Professor Shahid Tasleem.
An FIR (First Information Report) has been lodged under sections of the Prevention of Atrocities Act at the Jamia Nagar Police Station in South-East Delhi. The FIR, numbered 249/2024, was officially filed on July 15, 2024.
According to the FIR, Ram Niwas Singh has detailed his harrowing experiences at the university. He stated that he has been subjected to continuous caste-based discrimination and verbal abuse. More disturbingly, he claims he was pressured to convert to Islam as a supposed solution to the mistreatment he faced.
In his complaint, Singh specifically mentioned that Professor Nazim Hussain Al-Jafri asked him to bring “Iman” (faith) and convert to Islam. Al-Jafri promised that converting would end the abuses and problems Singh was encountering at the University.
Furthermore, Al-Jafri purportedly assured Singh that not only would his own career improve, but his children’s futures would also be secured if he embraced Islam.
Abused for being Dalit
Ram Niwas Singh, who comes from the Scheduled Caste category (Valmiki) joined Jamia Millia Islamia, a Central University established by an act of the Indian Parliament, as an Upper Division Clerk on March 30, 2007, under the reserved category.
Currently, he is working as an Assistant in the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University. He has been relentlessly subjected to caste-based atrocities, discrimination, and attempts at forced religious conversion by highly placed university officials, namely Prof. Nazim Hussain Jafri, the present officiating Registrar of the university, Nasim Haider, Deputy Registrar, and Prof. Shaheed Tasleem, Head of the Department of Foreign Languages, JMI.
Singh was on deputation as an Assistant at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Govt. of NCT of Delhi, from December 1, 2015, to November 30, 2021. He rejoined Jamia Millia Islamia on December 1, 2021. Upon his return, he sought No Objection Certificates (NOC) to apply for higher positions. These requests were repeatedly denied by the officiating Registrar, Prof. Nazim Hussain Jafri, without any explicit reasons.
Additionally, Singh was subjected to multiple transfers within the University, often after only two to three months, under the pretext of administrative reasons.
Singh reported his grievances to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), highlighting the unjust treatment he faced due to his caste identity. He noted that no other university employee had been denied professional growth opportunities as he did.
Upon learning that Singh had approached the NCSC, Prof. Jafri allegedly became agitated and summoned Singh to his office on April 13, 2023. Singh arrived at the Registrar’s office around 12:30 PM, as instructed by Mrs. Kaneez Fatima. After waiting for several hours, he was called into Jafri’s chamber, where several unknown individuals were present.
During the initial part of the meeting, Jafri questioned Singh, saying, “Ramniwas Sahab, aap kahan ke employee hain? Yahan se aap roti bhi kha rahe hain, yahi ke paise se aur aapke bachche bhi yahi se pal rahe hain. Aur pehli baat to ye ki aap direct commission bhi nahi jaa sakte.” After 2-2.5 minutes, the other individuals left, leaving Singh alone with Jafri.
During the brief meeting, Prof. Jafri reportedly questioned Singh’s loyalty and warned him against approaching higher authorities. After the others left, Jafri allegedly dehumanised and humiliated Singh, using caste-based invectives and threatening to implicate him in a false sexual harassment case to terminate his employment.
Jafri is reported to have said, “Tum Chamar, Bhangi, neech jaati se belong karte ho. Tu bhangi hai bhangi banke reh. Tum logon ko naukri reservation ke basis par milti hai, phir bhi tum log aukat mein nahi rehte ho. Jamia ek Muslim University hai, yeh mat bhulo. Tum Hindu log Chamar Bhangi ki naukri humare rehmo karam par chal rahi hai.” (You belong to a lower caste, you are a Bhangi, and you should remain as such. People like you get jobs based on reservations but still do not know their place. Do not forget that Jamia is a Muslim university, and your job is at our mercy.)
Singh managed to video record only the initial part of this conversation but was soon noticed by Jafri, who allegedly snatched the mobile from Singh’s pocket, preventing him from capturing the most distressing part of the encounter.
Reservation for SCs in Jamia
On April 29, 2023, Jamia Millia Islamia advertised 241 non-teaching positions. Singh applied for the posts of Assistant Registrar and Section Officer but noticed the lack of reservation for SC and ST candidates, despite the University being a central institution. Consequently, he moved to the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi to seek his constitutional right to reservation.
On June 16, 2023, the court directed the University to keep one post vacant in each category Singh had applied for, pending resolution.
Following the Court order, Singh alleges ongoing harassment by University officials, particularly by Registrar Jafri and Deputy Registrar M. Nasim Haider. Singh claims that Jafri coerced Prof. Shahid Tasleem, his former department head, into fabricating a complaint against him, aiming to initiate legal proceedings and hinder his professional growth. A show-cause notice was issued based on these alleged fabrications, and Singh was initially denied a copy of the complaint. Upon receiving it, he provided a detailed response to the allegations.
Singh also applied for a managerial position on a deputation basis at the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC). However, he asserts that the University administration, under Jafri’s instructions, deliberately forwarded his application incomplete, omitting necessary documents such as the Vigilance Clearance and his Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) for the last five years.
Despite the deadline for forwarding his application being June 30, 2023, Singh’s Vigilance Clearance and Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) for the last five years were only sent on October 5, 2023, as per letter F.No.3381/RNS/RO (Estt.)/2023.
Singh claims that the NOC and Vigilance Clearance sent to the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) were biased and discriminatory, aimed at damaging his career. The documents mentioned a “show cause notice issued for alleged misconduct,” which Singh asserts is irrelevant and a clear indication of caste-based discrimination. He believes this is part of a malicious attempt to prevent his professional advancement.
“Iman le aao sab theek kar denge..”
Singh reports that his former Head of Department (HOD), Prof. Shahid Tasleem, admitted to being coerced by Prof. Nazim Husain Jafri, the officiating Registrar, into filing a false complaint against Singh. Prof. Tasleem stated that he was threatened by Jafri to submit the complaint because Singh had challenged the University’s minority status.
Singh further alleges that during a meeting with Prof. Jafri in his chamber, he pleaded for an end to the humiliation, caste-based discrimination, and mental torture.
In response, Jafri advised Singh to convert to Islam, saying, “Iman le aao sab theek kar dunga” (Bring faith, and I’ll fix everything). When Singh asked for clarification, Jafri elaborated, “Kalma padh lo, sab kuch theek chalega. Tere bachchon ka bhi career bana dunga. Kya paaya Hinduism mein? Jamia ne Sachin ko Muhammad Ali banakar uski life set kar di. Usko driver ki permanent naukri di hai, kyunki vo ab iman le aaya hai.” (Recite the Kalma, and everything will be fine. I’ll secure your children’s future too. What have you gained from Hinduism? Jamia transformed Sachin into Muhammad Ali and set his life. He got a permanent job as a driver because he brought faith.)
Singh also accuses Deputy Registrar Mr. M. Nasim Haider of conspiring against him alongside Prof. Jafri. Despite Singh’s repeated meetings with Haider to resolve the show cause notice issue, Haider allegedly threatened him, saying, “Main tumhara complaint ko kabhi band nahi hone dunga. Tumne Jamia ka minority status ko challenge kiya hai aur iska natija tumhe bhugtana padega.” (I will never close your complaint. You challenged Jamia’s minority status, and you will pay the price for it.)
Singh states that he was repeatedly pressured by Prof. Jafri to convert his religion, a demand that he found both offensive and oppressive. The complainant has cited specific derogatory remarks, such as being called “jahil chamar bhangi aur kaafir” and being told that “Jamia idaraa muslamano ka hai kaafiro ke liye nahi” (Jamia is an institution for Muslims, not for infidels).
These actions, according to the complaint, constitute a violation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, specifically under sections 3(p) and 3(q) of Chapter 2, which address offenses of atrocities.
The complainant has called for immediate intervention to ensure justice is served and to prevent further harassment and discrimination. This case highlights the ongoing issues of caste-based discrimination and religious intolerance in Jamia University.
Spate of similar cases in University
Jamia Millia Islamia has yet to issue an official statement regarding the recent allegations. In light of claims made by Ram Niwas Singh about religious coercion and discrimination at the university, new details suggest broader systemic issues.
Information obtained by Organiser indicates that several individuals with Hindu names have reportedly faced pressure regarding their religious identities while working or studying at Jamia Millia Islamia. These pressures have sometimes resulted in individuals entering into marriages or relationships with Muslim persons.
The critical question that arises is whether these relationships have resulted due to insinuations or direct demands for religious conversion to Islam to maintain peace or secure career prospects within the institution. This matter warrants a thorough investigation.
Notably, these individuals, identified by their Hindu names, have connections to the university through either employment or family ties. The circumstances surrounding their relationships and religious identities have raised significant questions about the choices they have made to maintain peace and professional stability within the institution. Organiser has documents of as many as eleven such couples working at Jamia Millia Islamia with either of the spouses being a Muslim.
A former student, on the promise of anonymity, told to Organiser, that individuals like Sachin were pressured to convert to Islam in order to get a job. Additionally, since 2020, instances have been reported where Hindu festivals like Diwali and Holi were observed on campus, with some Muslim students participating in these celebrations. However, these acts reportedly sparked contentious reactions among the student body, leading to demonstrations and slogans like “Nara-e-Takbir”. A burqa-clad woman participated in Diwali celebrations and had to face abused from co-religionists for months to follow.
The source further disclosed ongoing proselytisation efforts within the University, where Muslim students and staff actively engage in daw’ah (invitation to Islam) practices. This includes attempts to persuade Hindu peers and colleagues by discussing concepts of heaven, hellfire, and the afterlife. Refusal to convert allegedly results in social targeting and discrimination, with individuals being labelled as “Hindu terrorists” for their religious beliefs.
Curious case of Constitutional fraud
It is pertinent to mention here that, Jamia Millia Islamia is a central university under the act of parliament. The institution was also granted a minority institution status in 2011 by the National Council of Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI). However, the fact that the institution was not run or administered by any minority community people was blatantly ignored by the council. The status however is being challenged in the High Court of Delhi, via writ petition.
With the institution becoming a minority institution, the reservation for the scheduled tribes and scheduled caste students were abolished completely in 2011. With this the appointments from these categories were also abolished in 2014, ignoring the court proceedings.
The university became a central university under the Jamia Millia Islamia Act 1988, the university is administered by this act and is funded by the consolidated fund of India. Before 2011, the university used followed the reservation policy of the government of India both in admissions and appointments.
Even after being the matter sub-judice the university closed the SC-ST cell. Since 2014 as many as 200 to 300 appointments have been made in the university in both teaching and non-teaching staff but not a single appointment was made from the deprived community. Apart from the appointments, the institution is also depriving opportunities to students belonging to the SC-ST communities who can get benefits from the institution.
Although the institution is listed as a minority institution but it is still governed by the act of 1988, as per which, the university should be open to all persons and that nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent the university from making appropriate provisions for reservations for SC, ST, PH or women.
It is pertinent to mention that, when NCMEI handed over the minority status to the university, not a single member from the scheduled caste or scheduled tribe commission was party to this council. The NCMEI had said in its order, “Jamia was founded by the Muslims for the benefit of Muslims, and it never lost its identity as a Muslim minority educational institution”. It added the University was thus, “covered under Article 30(1), read with Section 2(g) of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act”.
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