Delhi High Court Stays JNU's Decision to Dismiss Professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations

The Delhi High Court on Monday stayed Jawaharlal Nehru University’s decision to dismiss Inner Manipur Lok Sabha MP and professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam following allegations of sexual harassment. Justice Anup J Bhambhani issued a notice to the university regarding the lawmaker’s petition and scheduled the next hearing for January. The interim order effectively halts both the termination and any subsequent proceedings against him. The legal challenge by the School of Social Sciences professor stems from his October 9 dismissal and eviction from the campus. The lawmaker asserted that the university denied him a fair hearing and bypassed statutory procedures required under the UGC Rules and the JNU Act. He said the administration failed to provide the mandatory prior notice before terminating his services. University officials maintained that the administration followed due process. Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit issued the dismissal order based on recommendations from the university’s Internal Complaints Committee. The action followed complaints filed in May by 11 female students, who accused the professor of inappropriate conduct at his campus residence and obscene remarks during lectures. The judicial intervention comes amid intense political friction in Manipur. The Bharatiya Janata Party demanded the lawmaker’s resignation from Parliament, while the Congress accused the ruling party of weaponising the allegations for political leverage. The dispute triggered competing public demonstrations across the state. Agitation escalated at the national and local levels before the court ruling. A delegation of female ruling party lawmakers, including Manipur BJP president A Sharda Devi , met President Droupadi Murmu to seek the MP’s suspension from the Lok Sabha and protection for the complainants. The party’s youth and women’s wings also staged multiple protest marches in New Delhi and Imphal.