Delhi High Court stays JNU order terminating Congress MP and professor A Bimol Akoijam

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Published 2 November 2026

Case: A Bimol Akoijam v. Jawaharlal Nehru University
Court: High Court of Delhi
Source: Bar & Bench

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF)

The Delhi High Court stayed an order issued by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) that terminated the services of Congress MP and professor A Bimol Akoijam. The court noted that the termination order was issued without following due process.

Ratio Decidendi · Legal Principle Established

An order of termination issued without following due process, particularly without providing a show cause notice or an opportunity to be heard, is liable to be stayed.

Practice & Procedural Impact for Advocates

Advocates should ensure that all procedural requirements, including issuing show cause notices and providing opportunities for hearing, are strictly followed before initiating termination proceedings. Litigants facing termination without due process can seek interim relief from courts.

Key Legal Takeaways

1Termination orders must adhere to due process.
2A show cause notice is a prerequisite for termination.
3Courts may stay termination orders issued without proper procedure.

The Legal Issue Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) issued an order terminating the services of Professor A Bimol Akoijam, who is also a Congress Member of Parliament. The legality of this termination order, specifically whether it complied with due process requirements, was challenged before the Delhi High Court.

Court's Reasoning The Delhi High Court, after considering the arguments, found that the termination order was issued without following the necessary due process. The court observed that no show cause notice was issued to Professor Akoijam, nor was he provided an opportunity to present his case before the termination decision was made. The court emphasized that adherence to principles of natural justice, including the right to be heard, is fundamental in such matters.

What Follows The Delhi High Court stayed the operation of JNU's termination order. This means that Professor Akoijam's services are reinstated pending further orders from the court. The university is now required to address the procedural deficiencies identified by the court if it wishes to pursue the termination.