NEW DELHI | The Delhi High Court stayed Jawaharlal Nehru University’s (JNU) decision to terminate Congress MP and former professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam over sexual harassment allegations, granting him interim relief.Justice Anup J Bhambhani issued notice to the university on Akoijam’s petition challenging his dismissal and stayed the termination order and subsequent proceedings arising from it.

The matter is scheduled for further hearing in January. Akoijam, who represents the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, was a professor at JNU’s School of Social Sciences before the university terminated his services on October 9 following an inquiry into complaints filed by 11 female students.

In his petition, Akoijam challenged both his dismissal and JNU’s decision to evict him from his official campus residence. He argued that the university had not given him a proper opportunity to present his case and had failed to follow procedures prescribed under University Grants Commission regulations and the JNU Act. He also contended that he had not received the required notice before his ter mination.

The complaints, filed in May, alleged that Akoijam invited students to his official residence under the pretext of meetings or social gatherings and attempted to sexually harass them. Some complainants also accused him of making obscene or inappropriate remarks during classroom interactions. JNU’s Internal Complaints Committee conducted an inquiry and recommended disciplinary action.

The university’s October 9 termination order, signed by Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit, said the decision followed due process and consideration of the committee’s findings.Akoijam has denied the allegations and questioned the fairness of the inquiry. He described the ICC proceedings as a “khap panchayat” and alleged that the university’s action was politically motivated. He has also said he would resign from Parliament if the allegations against him were established. The case has triggered a political confrontation in Manipur.

The BJP has demanded Akoijam’s resignation, while the Congress has accused the ruling party of using the allegations to target its MP. Protests have been held both against and in support of Akoijam. After his dismissal, the BJP’s women’s wing held a march towards Congress Bhavan in Imphal, and Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh called for the MP to step down. A delegation of BJP women MPs later met President Droupadi Murmu, seeking action against Akoijam and protection for the complainants.