Kalaburagi | July 26, 2025 — The Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), a legal advocacy group, has filed a formal complaint with the Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Karnataka (CUK), Kalaburagi, alleging a serious constitutional violation during an academic field trip organised by the Department of History & Archaeology.
According to the complaint, on 19th June 2025, second-year undergraduate students were allegedly taken to the Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq Mosque as part of a university-sponsored educational visit. Abdul Majid, Assistant Professor in the department, is accused of compelling students to participate in this Islamic religious site visit—an act the LPRF says breaches the secular framework of state-funded institutions.
Got reports that Asst Prof Mr Abdul Majid, History & Archaeology – Central University of Karnataka (@CuKarnataka) took UG students to Islamic religious sites as a ‘field trip’ and forced girl students to wear Hijab.
We’ve written to the Vice-Chancellor seeking strict action. pic.twitter.com/oXnqEcW5cX
— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) July 26, 2025
What has caused further concern is the allegation that female students were forced to wear hijabs to enter the mosque, prompting accusations of religious coercion.
“The students were allegedly made to conform to specific religious customs as a condition of participation in the academic programme. This is a clear violation of Article 28(3) of the Indian Constitution, which prohibits compelling any student in a state-funded institution to take part in religious instruction or worship,” said Santhosh, the President of LRPF, in a statement.
The Forum also raised questions over whether the visit was pre-approved by university authorities or if consent was sought from parents and students beforehand. It accused the university administration of failing to prevent what it called “a misuse of institutional authority” and “a breach of secular academic norms.”
Calling for urgent intervention, the LRPF demanded a formal inquiry into the conduct of Prof. Abdul Majid and others involved in the trip. The complaint also sought “stringent disciplinary action” if the allegations are proven, and asked the university to “issue clear directions to prevent recurrence of such incidents and uphold the secular and neutral character of the institution.”
Speaking with Organiser, A. S. Santhosh, General Secretary of LRPF, said, “These kinds of incidents pose a real danger by eroding the trust of students—especially when a professor with religious inclinations coerces students under the guise of exploring academic subjects. There is a genuine risk that such individuals may distort history to suit their personal agendas, which threatens both the academic integrity and future careers of students.
