Imphal: A Division Bench of the High Court of Manipur has stayed the issuance of appointment orders to candidates declared successful in the recruitment of 78 Group-B and Group-C posts at Manipur University (MU), observing that a prima facie case had been made out against the Cadre Recruitment Rules (CRR).
After hearing counsel for the petitioners and representatives of the respondents, the Bench held that the balance of convenience lay in favour of halting the appointment process until the matter is adjudicated. The interim order was passed on February 25, 2026, in a writ petition (Civil) filed by Wangkhem Ranjan and Sukham Bidyananda, who have alleged violations in the recruitment procedure. The next hearing has been scheduled for March 10, 2026.
In a related development, the Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA) has levelled allegations of large-scale irregularities in the recruitment of non-teaching staff and demanded an immediate probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). In a statement, KSA Secretary-General Babulu Huirongbam accused the Vice-Chancellor of conducting the recruitment process in alleged connivance with certain faculty members, describing it as a “well-planned scam”.
The Socialist Students’ Union of Manipur (SSUM) and the KSA have further alleged that a majority of the recently selected candidates are relatives of senior university officials. According to the KSA, the recruitment examination was conducted on January 29, 2026, despite widespread allegations of procedural lapses. The recruitment notification had originally been issued on May 13, 2025.
Manipur University Students’ Union (MUSU) president Nongpoknganba Yambem confirmed that the High Court had stayed the joining orders following the declaration of results. He said the union would not permit the recruitment process to proceed until a thorough investigation is completed.
Referring to a hoax bomb incident reported on the university campus on February 24, the MUSU president suggested that it could be linked to the ongoing controversy surrounding the recruitment process. He said the device was planted by unidentified persons in a residential area of the campus, creating panic among students. Stressing the seriousness of the matter, he said such acts that foster fear and insecurity must not be repeated.