Delhi High Court stays JNU's termination of professor and MP Bimol Akoijam
By TUF News Desk · Published 2 November 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
The Delhi High Court on Monday stayed Jawaharlal Nehru University’s decision to terminate the services of professor and Inner Manipur MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, putting the October 9 dismissal order on hold while his challenge is heard.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani passed the interim order and issued notice to the university, asking it to respond to Akoijam’s petition. The case will come up again in January 2027.
What Akoijam argued in court
Akoijam told the court that no notice was issued to him before the university removed him from service. That argument sits at the centre of his petition against the termination order.
Akoijam was a professor at JNU’s Centre for the Study of Social Systems, under the School of Social Sciences. He also represents the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency as a Congress MP.
Why JNU dismissed him
JNU dismissed Akoijam with immediate effect on October 9, after its Internal Committee inquired into complaints filed in May by at least 11 female students. The termination order, signed by Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, said the committee had completed its inquiry and recommended disciplinary action.
Delhi Police registered an FIR in October at the Vasant Kunj North police station, on a complaint by the university’s chief security officer. The investigation is under way.
Separately, Akoijam has moved a local court seeking anticipatory bail in the case.
A second challenge to how the order was passed
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association has also questioned whether the Vice-Chancellor alone could dismiss a faculty member. Its argument is that the decision required the approval of the university’s Executive Council under Statute 30 of the JNU Act.
The High Court’s interim order pauses the termination while these questions are examined. It does not decide the complaints that led to the dismissal.
What happens next
JNU must now file its response to the petition before the January hearing. The court’s final view on whether the termination followed the correct procedure will come only after both sides are heard.
Students weighing JNU against other central universities can read our guide to choosing a university in India. The university’s own notices and announcements are published on its official website.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the Delhi High Court stay JNU’s termination order?
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani passed an interim order on November 2 after Akoijam told the court that no notice was issued to him before the decision. The court issued notice to JNU and listed the matter for hearing in January 2027.
Why did JNU dismiss Angomcha Bimol Akoijam?
JNU dismissed him on October 9, 2026, after its Internal Committee inquired into complaints filed in May by at least 11 female students. The termination order, signed by Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, said the committee had recommended disciplinary action.
Does the stay clear Akoijam of the allegations?
No. The interim order only pauses the termination while the court examines his challenge to the dismissal. The complaints and the police investigation remain separate from the court case on the termination order.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the Delhi High Court stay JNU's termination order?
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani passed an interim order on November 2 after Akoijam told the court that no notice was issued to him before the decision. The court issued notice to JNU and listed the matter for hearing in January 2027.
Why did JNU dismiss Angomcha Bimol Akoijam?
JNU dismissed him on October 9, 2026, after its Internal Committee inquired into complaints filed in May by at least 11 female students. The termination order, signed by Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, said the committee had recommended disciplinary action.
Does the stay clear Akoijam of the allegations?
No. The interim order only pauses the termination while the court examines his challenge to the dismissal. The complaints and the police investigation remain separate from the court case on the termination order.
Sources: The Times of India, The Tribune, The Statesman