The Delhi High Court on Monday, 2 November 2026, granted interim relief to Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam by staying Jawaharlal Nehru University's (JNU) order dismissing him from service, following a university inquiry into sexual harassment allegations filed by 11 female students. The stay provides temporary protection to the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha MP as the legal challenge to his dismissal proceeds.

Court's Interim Order and Next Steps

A single-judge bench of Justice Anup J. Bhambhani passed the interim order while hearing Akoijam's petition challenging the dismissal. The court simultaneously issued a notice to JNU and scheduled the next hearing for January. The bench's decision to stay the dismissal does not amount to an acquittal or exoneration — it merely preserves the status quo pending a fuller examination of Akoijam's arguments.

The JNU Dismissal Order

According to the university's order dated 9 October, JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree D. Pandit had directed Akoijam's dismissal from service with immediate effect. The decision came after the university's Internal Committee conducted an inquiry into complaints submitted by 11 female students in May this year and found the allegations to be substantiated. JNU stated that the disciplinary action followed due process under applicable service rules.

Anticipatory Bail Plea Before Rouse Avenue Court

Separately, Akoijam has approached the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi seeking anticipatory bail in connection with a case registered against him by the Delhi Police. The court is scheduled to take up the anticipatory bail plea on Tuesday. This dual legal front — a service dispute before the High Court and a criminal matter before the sessions court — underscores the complexity of the proceedings now surrounding the sitting MP.

Akoijam's Response and Police Cooperation

On 15 October, Akoijam appeared before the Delhi Police at the Vasant Kunj North police station in response to a summons, joining the investigation. Describing the developments as a 'political matter,' the Congress MP said he had cooperated with the police and did not want his absence to be construed as non-cooperation. His characterisation of the case as politically motivated has not been independently verified; the allegations originated from students within the university, not from political opponents.

Background and Wider Context

Akoijam represents the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency and holds a faculty position at JNU — a dual role that drew attention when the complaints emerged. This comes amid a broader national conversation around institutional accountability under the Prevention, Protection and Redressal of Sexual Harassment (POSH) framework at educational institutions. Notably, the university's Internal Committee findings triggered the dismissal — a relatively rare outcome in such institutional processes, reflecting the gravity of the allegations as assessed by the committee.

All eyes will now be on the January hearing at the Delhi High Court, where the university's dismissal order will face fuller judicial scrutiny, and on Tuesday's anticipatory bail proceedings at Rouse Avenue Court.