Kohima: Following a now-withdrawn government order issued by the Nagaland Chief Secretary to regularise 147 Assistant Professors and Librarians serving on a contractual basis in the state’s Higher Education Department, a wave of intense public debate and controversy has erupted across Nagaland.
The decision, which was initially celebrated by some undergraduate student bodies for addressing long standing faculty shortages, has also drawn sharp criticism from scholars and aspirants who allege the move bypassed mandated recruitment procedures, sparking a broader conversation on merit and transparency.
The order dated April 8, 2025, notified the absorption of these contractual employees “in the interest of public service” and cited the approval of the Minister of Higher Education and Tourism.
The regularised individuals were absorbed under a previous notification issued in December 2024. However, the legality of these appointments is under judicial scrutiny, with multiple writ petitions pending in court since 2022, challenging what have been described as “backdoor appointments.”
Support from Government College Student Unions
Several undergraduate student unions from government colleges have expressed wholehearted support for the regularisation, viewing it as a long-overdue recognition of the contribution made by contractual faculty members.
The Dimapur Government College Students’ Council lauded the move in a letter addressed to the Higher Education Department, stating that these absorbed teachers had served “with utmost sincerity on a contractual basis,” especially crucial with the college preparing to implement the fourth year of the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP). “This has happened at a time when the college is going to handle four semesters in a semester,” the council noted.
The Sao Chang College Students’ Union echoed this sentiment, stating that it does not object to the absorption of contractual Assistant Professors, as the college has been suffering from a teacher shortage for over a decade. They noted that the contractual teachers in their college had also contributed significantly during the initial process of NAAC accreditation and had been shouldering responsibilities due to the continued faculty shortage.
Similarly, the Zunheboto Government College Students’ Union said that many of their absorbed teachers had worked for six to twelve years under challenging conditions, helping to sustain departments that lacked adequate faculty. “They have given their best years to uplift students and the college. Befittingly, their contingency services have been regularized,” the union said, calling the move a just reward for their dedication.
Adding to the chorus of support, the Kohima Science College Students’ Union, Jotsoma, thanked the Department of Higher Education for addressing the longstanding shortage of experienced faculty.
“With the introduction of the semester system, when there was a shortfall of teachers without any sanctioned post, the present absorbed teaching faculty filled in the vacuum which ensured that students were not denied their right to education and that the academic activities continued uninterrupted. In addition, despite a meagre fixed salary, they have contributed a lot to the upliftment of the college and the student community in general,” the student body said.
Interestingly, the student body warned that if any coercive action is taken under pressure against the recent move, it will raise its dissatisfaction through democratic forms of protest.
However, on Friday, the student body nullified its statement after “careful consideration” stating that it does not intend to support or oppose any party involved.
Sharp condemnation from scholars and aspirants
On the other side of the debate, strong opposition has emerged from academic forums and student bodies concerned with due process and transparency.
The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) described the appointments as a serious violation of the rights of qualified and aspiring Naga youth who have prepared for recruitment through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC).
The union stated that bypassing the established recruitment process undermines the integrity of the state’s educational institutions, and warned that such arbitrary appointments not only deny deserving candidates their rightful opportunities but also compromise the quality of education, putting the future of higher education in Nagaland at risk.
The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) has demanded the cancellation of all appointments made without following the NPSC recruitment process. The union urged the Higher Education Department to adhere to NPSC norms for future appointments and called for greater transparency and accountability in public service recruitment.
It also demanded a thorough investigation and appropriate action against those responsible. Emphasising the need to safeguard the rights of Naga youth, the DNSU warned that failure to address the issue would lead to further democratic agitations to protect the interests of the student community.
The Naga Research Scholars’ Forum Shillong (NRSFS) also condemned the move, aligning themselves with DNSU and calling it a blow to the aspirations of qualified NET/PhD holders who had prepared for the Common Educational Services Examination (CESE).
The recruitment of candidates to these posts without subjecting them to the mandated NPSC process is a harsh blow to the aspirations of dedicated and deserving candidates who have tirelessly committed themselves to academic excellence,” they said.
To them, the academic community deserves a recruitment system that recognises qualifications, upholds fairness and is free from backdoor entries, political influence or favouritism.
Government u-turn
Facing mounting pressure, the state government issued a circular on April 10, 2025, stating that the earlier notification—widely circulated on social media—was “not officially issued” and must be considered “null and void until further notice.” The circular directed all principals of government colleges not to facilitate any handing over or taking over of responsibilities based on the now-retracted order.
Meanwhile, expressing their discontent, the Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF) launched a poster campaign on social media, with members sharing visuals demanding justice and urging the Naga public to take notice. One of the posters stated, “The Department of Higher Education, Nagaland, has regularised 147 contractual Assistant Professor posts across all government colleges – raising serious concerns about transparency, fairness, and equal opportunity: We demand justice and accountability for this blatant disregard of due process.”
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