NEW DELHI, Nov 2:

In a major legal reprieve for Inner Manipur Lok Sabha MP and academic Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, the Delhi High Court has granted an interim stay on the order issued by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) terminating his services as a professor.

The High Court’s intervention puts on hold the October 9, 2026 dismissal notice signed by JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, which had removed Dr. Akoijam from his faculty post at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems (School of Social Sciences) with immediate effect.

Grounds of the Legal Challenge

Dr. Akoijam approached the Delhi High Court challenging the legality of the dismissal order, contending that the university administration bypassed statutory norms and violated principles of natural justice. Key procedural objections raised following his termination include:

• Jurisdictional Authority: As previously highlighted by the JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA), the authority to dismiss a permanent faculty member rests strictly with the university’s Executive Council (EC) rather than a unilateral order from the Vice-Chancellor.

• Procedural Lapses & Dissents: Following the conclusion of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) probe into complaints filed by 11 female students in May 2026, three student representatives on the panel issued a signed dissent note alleging serious procedural irregularities and breaches of statutory confidentiality norms.

• Denial of Due Process: Dr. Akoijam maintained that he was not furnished with the complete inquiry report or supporting evidence prior to the public announcement of his termination, characterizing the administrative action as a politically motivated “witch hunt”.

Background of the Case

On October 9, 2026, JNU invoked Rule 11(ix) of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules alongside UGC regulations to impose the “Major Punishment” of dismissal against the first-time Congress parliamentarian. Subsequently, on October 12, the Vasant Kunj North Police Station registered an FIR based on a complaint forwarded by JNU’s Chief Security Officer.

The termination sparked sharp political exchanges across Delhi and Manipur, with the BJP demanding Dr. Akoijam’s resignation from Parliament, while the MP and faculty bodies argued that institutional mechanisms were weaponized without adhering to mandatory legal safeguards.

With the Delhi High Court staying the operation of the dismissal order, JNU is expected to file its detailed counter-affidavit responding to the procedural and jurisdictional questions raised in the petition.