Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has dismissed Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam from his position as a professor following an inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment, prompting Akoijam to question the disciplinary process and describe the development as a potential “blessing in disguise”.
According to a university order, the decision followed an inquiry conducted by the university’s Internal Committee, which recommended major punishment based on its findings. The dismissal has been imposed with immediate effect, the order stated.
The order, signed by JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit, said the university had considered the available facts and followed due process before imposing the punishment. It also cited the applicable service rules, including Rule 11(ix) of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules.
Reacting to the reported dismissal, Akoijam described the development as a possible “blessing in disguise” and alleged that the proceedings against him amounted to a “witch hunt”. He questioned the manner in which the inquiry had been conducted and called for the allegations and supporting evidence to be made public.
According to his remarks reported by The Times of India, Akoijam said he had not received a copy of the inquiry report or the dismissal order at the time of his response. He questioned how he could properly address the allegations without access to the findings and evidence on which the university had based its decision.
“If there are allegations then show me the evidence in the report or anywhere,” he said, calling for transparency in the proceedings.
Akoijam also reportedly said, “For me, this is the best thing that could happen to expose this ‘witch hunt’,” suggesting that the action against him would bring greater scrutiny to the matter.
Referring to the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, he emphasised that the law was enacted by the Indian Parliament and argued that its requirements should be open to public scrutiny.
“The POSH Act, 2013, is not a Chinese Act; it is an Indian law passed by the Indian Parliament. Let the countrymen see its requirements,” he said.
According to media reports, the action followed an inquiry into sexual harassment allegations reportedly made against Akoijam by 11 students.
The university’s order, as described in the available account, states that the Internal Committee conducted an inquiry and recommended major punishment. The details of the committee’s findings and the individual allegations have not been established from the material available for this report.
Akoijam is a Congress MP from Manipur and has been associated with JNU’s Centre for the Study of Social Systems in the School of Social Sciences.
