JNU dismisses professor and Congress MP Bimol Akoijam after harassment inquiry
Representative image: WOKANDAPIX / Pixabay
JNU dismissed professor and Inner Manipur MP Bimol Akoijam on October 9, 2026, after an Internal Committee probe into students' complaints; he denies them.
What Happened
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi has dismissed Professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, who is also the Congress Lok Sabha member for Inner Manipur, from its service after an inquiry into sexual harassment complaints made by students. The dismissal order, dated Friday, October 9, 2026, and signed by Vice-Chancellor Santishree D. Pandit, says the university's Internal Committee inquired into the allegations and recommended a major penalty under the applicable service rules. The order took effect immediately. The complaints, reportedly from 11 female students, were filed with the university in May 2026. Akoijam has denied the allegations, called the action a political witch hunt and said he was not given a fair chance to respond.
Key Facts
- Who: Professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, a JNU faculty member and the Congress MP for Inner Manipur since the 2024 general election.
- What: dismissal from university service, following an Internal Committee inquiry into sexual harassment complaints.
- When: the order is dated Friday, October 9, 2026, and is signed by Vice-Chancellor Santishree D. Pandit.
- Complaints: reportedly made by 11 female students in May 2026; reports vary slightly on the exact number.
- The order does not set out the individual allegations or the committee's detailed findings.
- Akoijam's response: he denies wrongdoing, has described the decision as a political witch hunt and the coverage as a media trial, and says he was denied the right to respond to the committee's final report, which he alleges reached the media before him.
- The student group ABVP had held protests demanding his suspension and dismissal.
Why It Matters
Indian universities have Internal Committees to hear complaints of sexual harassment from students and staff. These committees inquire into a complaint, hear both sides and recommend action to the institution. Their work is usually confidential. A dismissal on a committee's recommendation is among the strongest penalties a university can impose.
This case draws attention because of who is involved. Akoijam is both a senior academic and a sitting member of Parliament, so the decision has quickly become political. He and his supporters say the process was unfair and politically driven. Student groups that campaigned against him say the university has finally acted on complaints from students. Neither the allegations nor his defence has yet been tested outside the university's own process.
For students, the case is a reminder that the complaint system exists and can lead to serious consequences. For teachers and institutions, it raises questions that often follow such cases: whether the accused had a full chance to answer, whether confidentiality was maintained, and how quickly complaints were handled. Akoijam's claim that he did not get to respond to the final report goes to the first of these, and is likely to be central if he challenges the decision.
As of October 12, no report had confirmed a legal challenge. A dismissed employee can usually appeal within the institution or approach a court.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Institution | Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi |
| Order date | October 9, 2026 |
| Signed by | Vice-Chancellor Santishree D. Pandit |
| Basis | Internal Committee recommendation of a major penalty |
| Complaints filed | May 2026, reportedly by 11 students |
Impact
Short-term: Akoijam no longer holds his JNU post. His seat in the Lok Sabha is not affected by the university's decision. Political parties have begun trading charges over the case.
Long-term: How the case unfolds, especially if it reaches a court, may shape how universities run sexual harassment inquiries, including how they share final reports with the accused and protect confidentiality.
Who is affected: The complainant students, JNU's faculty and administration, Akoijam and his constituents in Inner Manipur, and students and staff at other universities who rely on Internal Committees.
Key Takeaway
JNU has dismissed professor and Congress MP Bimol Akoijam on its Internal Committee's recommendation over students' sexual harassment complaints, a decision he denies and calls political.
Questions and Answers
Why did JNU dismiss Professor Bimol Akoijam?
According to the university's order of October 9, 2026, its Internal Committee inquired into sexual harassment complaints from students and recommended a major penalty under the service rules, and the university dismissed him on that basis.
What has Akoijam said?
He denies the allegations, has called the action a political witch hunt and the reporting a media trial, and says he was not allowed to respond to the committee's final report.
Does this affect his position as an MP?
No. The dismissal concerns only his job at the university. He remains the Lok Sabha member for Inner Manipur.
What is an Internal Committee?
It is a body that institutions set up to hear complaints of sexual harassment, inquire into them and recommend action.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
