The Delhi High Court has issued an interim stay on the termination of Jawaharlal Nehru University professor and Inner Manipur MP Bimol Akoijam. Justice Anup J. Bhambhani halted the dismissal after noting that the university failed to issue a mandatory notice before proceeding. The court has scheduled the next hearing for January 2027, keeping the disciplinary action on hold while legal proceedings continue.
The Delhi High Court has granted an interim reprieve to Bimol Akoijam, the Congress Member of Parliament for Inner Manipur, by staying his termination from Jawaharlal Nehru University. In an order passed on November 2, 2026, Justice Anup J. Bhambhani directed the university to keep the dismissal in abeyance after finding that the institution failed to issue a show-cause notice to the professor before initiating the disciplinary action.
Procedural Concerns in Termination
The court’s intervention focuses primarily on the procedural conduct of the university. The dismissal order, issued by JNU on October 9, 2026, followed an investigation by the university’s Internal Complaints Committee. This committee had examined allegations of sexual harassment filed by at least 11 female students. The professor has consistently denied these allegations, describing the process as a politically motivated inquiry and challenging the institutional handling of the case.
While the university maintains that it acted in accordance with its internal regulations following the committee's findings, the court's decision to stay the order highlights the legal importance of due process, including the requirement for prior notification. The court has now issued a formal notice to the university, with the next hearing scheduled for January 2027. This effectively freezes the termination until the judiciary can further review the merits of the case.
Governance and Political Context
The legal dispute has unfolded against a backdrop of significant political friction in Manipur. Since the allegations and subsequent termination, the Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded the resignation of the MP from his parliamentary seat, leading to protests and intense political debate. The Congress party, in response, has claimed that the university’s administrative actions are being used as a tool for political targeting.
Beyond the political implications, the case involves serious legal complexities. A Delhi Police FIR has been registered in connection with the sexual harassment allegations, marking a shift from internal university proceedings to broader criminal investigation. For observers of institutional governance, the case is a notable example of the intersection between academic administrative decisions, political representation, and the judicial system.
The key monitorable for the public and stakeholders will be the proceedings in January 2027. As the case moves through the court, the focus will remain on whether the university can substantiate its procedural adherence and how the parallel criminal investigation by the police progresses.