NEW DELHI: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Friday dismissed Prof Angomcha Bimol Akoijam of the Centre for the Study of Social Systems with immediate effect following an inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by 11 students.Akoijam is also a Congress MP Inner Manipur constituency in Manipur.An order issued by the university on Friday and signed by vice-chancellor Santishree D Pandit said the decision was taken after considering the findings of the Internal Committee (IC), which had recommended a major penalty against the professor under the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965.“Upon following the due process and considering all available facts and as per the report of the Internal Committee (IC), the punishment of dismissal from the services of the University is hereby imposed on the professor,” the order stated.The committee submitted its report to the vice-chancellor on Friday afternoon. Official sources said there had been a disagreement within the committee over the nature of the penalty to be recommended.While the presiding officer and other members favoured a major penalty, student representatives declined to sign off on the recommendation, favouring a lesser punishment. The report was consequently submitted with dissent after consultations with lawyers, sources said.Under Rule 11 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, penalties are divided into minor and major categories.Minor penalties include censure, withholding of promotion, recovery from pay of financial loss caused to the government through negligence or breach of orders, reduction to a lower stage in the pay scale for a specified period, and withholding of increments of pay.Major penalties include reduction to a lower stage in the pay scale for a specified period, reduction to a lower time-scale of pay, grade, post or service, compulsory retirement, removal from service, and dismissal from service.While removal from service does not ordinarily disqualify a person from future government employment, dismissal ordinarily does.TOI, on Sept 6 first reported, the sexual harassment complaint submitted with the ICC. The complaints against the professor were submitted on May 18.There is a 90 days period as per rules to conclude the investigation. However, due to summer vacation from 27 May to 3 July, the inquiry got delayed.The matter reportedly came to light after a student shared her account of an alleged interaction during a viva examination in a students-only WhatsApp group, following which other students came forward with similar allegations.The complaints reportedly included allegations of sexually suggestive remarks during vivas and classes, inappropriate advances at gatherings at the professor’s on-campus residence, and offers of higher marks in exchange for sexual favours.TOI reached out to the professor seeking his response to the university’s decision, but he did not respond to queries till the time of going to press.Congress is yet to react to the development.
Who is Prof Angomcha Bimol Akoijam?
Akoijam is a Congress MP from Inner Manipur constituency in Manipur. At the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, JNU, he specialises in social and political psychology and cultural studies.