UKHRUL: Delhi Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Congress Lok Sabha MP and former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, days after the university dismissed him following an internal inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment by 11 female students, as the JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) raised concerns over alleged procedural violations and a breach of confidentiality in the dismissal process.
The FIR was registered at Vasant Kunj North Police Station on Sunday based on a complaint and documents submitted by JNU Chief Security Officer (CSO).
The complaint refers to findings of the university’s Internal Committee (IC), which examined the allegations and assessed witness statements, defence witnesses and other evidence. According to the FIR, the committee’s findings indicated a recurring pattern of inappropriate personal interactions, sexually suggestive conduct and unwelcome physical contact involving female students.
The complaint further alleged that the conduct created an intimidating, offensive and hostile learning environment, with inadequate professional boundaries in interactions with female students, reported The Week.
The FIR invokes Sections 75, 75(1)(i), 75(1)(iv) and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
The case comes after JNU dismissed Akoijam from active university service on October 9, following the internal committee’s inquiry and its recommendation for major punishment.
Akoijam has denied the allegations, describing them as a political witch hunt. He also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of fabricating charges against him to silence his criticism ahead of the upcoming Manipur Assembly elections, reported The Print.
ALSO READ: Bimol Akoijam Calls JNU Dismissal ‘Witch Hunt’, Says He Has Not Received Inquiry Report
Meanwhile, the JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) has raised concerns over the university administration’s handling of the dismissal, alleging procedural violations and a breach of confidentiality in the circulation of the dismissal order and the internal committee’s recommendations.
In a statement, JNUTA questioned the Vice-Chancellor’s authority to dismiss a faculty member without the approval of the university’s Executive Council, arguing that Statute 30 of the JNU Act vests the power of dismissal in the council. The association said no Executive Council meeting had been convened and no relevant documents had been shared with its members.
JNUTA also objected to the alleged leaking of the internal committee’s recommendations to the media, saying it undermined the confidentiality required in such proceedings. It called on the university administration to be held accountable for what it described as violations of institutional rules and due process.