The Delhi High Court on Monday, November 2, stayed Jawaharlal Nehru University’s (JNU) decision to terminate the services of Congress MP and professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam over allegations of sexual harassment levelled by several female students.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani issued notice to the university on Akoijam’s petition challenging his termination and listed the matter for further hearing in January 2027.
Akoijam, who represents the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, was serving as a professor at JNU’s School of Social Sciences. The university had dismissed him on October 9 after its Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) investigated the allegations and recommended disciplinary action.
The termination order, signed by Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit, stated that the university had followed due process and considered the findings of the Internal Committee before imposing the punishment of dismissal. Akoijam has denied the allegations and subsequently approached the High Court challenging the decision.
11 female students reportedly complained against Congress MP
The controversy emerged after at least 11 female students submitted complaints against Akoijam to JNU’s ICC in May 2026.
According to reports, the students said that the professor invited them to his residence on the university campus under the pretext of academic meetings or gatherings and attempted to sexually harass them. Some also accused him of making obscene and inappropriate remarks during classroom interactions.
The allegations extended to viva examinations, with students claiming that the professor made sexually suggestive comments and behaved inappropriately while evaluating them. One allegation also involved purportedly linking higher academic marks to sexual favours.
Screenshots of student conversations add another dimension
The controversy gained further attention in September after screenshots purportedly showing conversations among JNU students surfaced. The screenshots, accessed by OpIndia, appeared to show students discussing alleged incidents involving ‘Bimol sir’ during viva examinations.
OpIndia has not independently verified the authenticity of the screenshots, the identities of the participants or the claims made in the conversations.
In one exchange, a student alleged that the professor asked students to touch his hands during a viva and purportedly asked them, “what is a quickie”. Other participants reportedly described the alleged conduct as “really weird”, “deeply problematic” and “unprofessional”.
The conversation also highlighted the power imbalance between professors and students appearing for academic evaluation. One participant reportedly argued that students might find it difficult to express discomfort when their academic performance is being assessed by the professor concerned.
Other messages stressed that students willing to share their experiences should be supported, while those unwilling to come forward should not be pressured.
Questions over JNU’s handling of complaints
The complaints were filed in May, following which the ICC initiated proceedings and called complainants to record their statements.
The timeline of the investigation subsequently attracted criticism from student groups. The ABVP staged protests at JNU in September, demanding a fair and time-bound inquiry into the allegations.
The applicable UGC regulations prescribe 90 days for completing an inquiry into sexual harassment complaints, followed by 10 days for submission of the inquiry report.
The Delhi Commission for Women also took suo motu cognisance of the allegations and sought a report from JNU regarding the complaints, action taken by the university and measures adopted to ensure students’ safety.
Akoijam was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2024 and continues to represent Inner Manipur as a Congress MP. The Delhi High Court’s interim order has now stayed JNU’s termination decision pending further proceedings. The stay, however, does not amount to a judicial finding on the allegations against him.
The matter will next be heard in January 2027.
