Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Friday dismissed Professor and Congress MP A. Bimol Akoijam from university service with immediate effect following an inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment. The dismissal order, signed by Vice-Chancellor Santishree D. Pandit, stated that the university had considered the findings of its Internal Committee before imposing the punishment. Akoijam, who represents the Inner Manipur constituency in the Lok Sabha, had not issued an immediate reaction to the decision at the time of reporting.

According to the official order, JNU's Internal Committee conducted an inquiry into the complaints and recommended major disciplinary action based on its findings. The university stated that the dismissal followed due process and consideration of the available facts. The order formally imposed the punishment of dismissal from service, bringing Akoijam's employment at the institution to an end with immediate effect. It also cited the applicable service regulations and Rule 11(ix) of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules.

Akoijam was serving as a professor at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, which operates under JNU's School of Social Sciences. Reports indicated that at least 11 female students had filed sexual harassment complaints against him in May this year. The allegations reportedly concerned interactions between the professor and students on campus, prompting the university to examine the complaints through its established internal mechanism. The inquiry subsequently formed the basis for the disciplinary action announced on Friday.

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According to the reported allegations, some students claimed that Akoijam invited them to his campus residence under the pretext of meetings or gatherings and allegedly attempted to sexually harass them. Other complaints reportedly accused him of making obscene or inappropriate remarks during classroom interactions. These claims prompted concern within the university community, with reports suggesting that additional students came forward with similar allegations. The allegations remain distinct from the university's formal disciplinary findings, which were cited in the dismissal order.

The decision marks a significant development in the case involving the university professor, who is also a sitting Congress MP from Manipur. JNU's order indicates that the institution relied on the Internal Committee's inquiry and the applicable disciplinary rules to determine the punishment. No immediate response from Akoijam was available following the announcement. The development is likely to draw attention to the handling of sexual harassment complaints within higher educational institutions and the procedures followed when disciplinary action is taken against faculty members.

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