For more than 10 days, 367 graduate teachers under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) 2016 batch have been staging sit-in protests in Kohima, demanding that the Nagaland government implement a court order granting them regular scale pay.
The ongoing agitation has disrupted classes in 133 government schools across the state, leaving thousands of students without teachers. The move follows a pen-down strike and a statewide boycott of classes.
According to the state government, these RMSA Graduate Teachers of the 2016 batch were engaged as contractual teachers in 2016 under RMSA, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the erstwhile Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.
On appointment, they were classified as contractual employees, with explicit terms that their tenure was co-terminus with the scheme, and their salaries dependent on annual central fund releases. The Directorate of School Education (DoSE) informed that the teachers signed an affidavit acknowledging these conditions and were engaged by the Nagaland Education Mission Society, the implementing agency.
“The engagements so made were against posts created for the CSS Scheme and not against substantive posts under the State Cadre of the Department of School Education. On acceptance of the service conditions, the teachers were paid a fixed salary of Rs 31,315 per month,” the government said.
In 2018, with the integration of the three flagship CSS programmes—RMSA, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), and Teacher Education—into the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, the Centre reduced the salary support for Graduate Teachers to Rs 25,000 per month. Aggrieved by the reduction, the petitioners approached the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, challenging the pay cut and seeking directions for grant of scale pay. The state government shared that on May 20, 2020, the High Court quashed the Office Memorandum on reduction of pay but did not agree to the demand for scale pay.
In compliance with the court order, the Nagaland Education Mission Society continued paying RMSA teachers Rs 31,315 per month, with partial funding from the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and the shortfall met by the state government.
In 2022, the RMSA teachers filed another case seeking a pay band of Rs 9,300–34,800 with a grade pay of Rs 4,200 per month. Subsequently, on March 16, 2022, the High Court directed the respondents to grant scale pay.
From 2022-23, the government said that the funding pattern for financial support towards teachers’ salaries changed, with a 5% annual incremental reduction leading to a decrease in salary support from Rs 25,000 per month to Rs 18,750 per month. Against the initial funding ratio of 90:10 between Centre and State, the ratio now stands at 60:40.
In this backdrop, the State filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court against the verdict of the Gauhati High Court. On May 20, 2025, the Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s order. Upon receipt of the Supreme Court’s order, the State Government filed a Review Petition on August 14, 2025.
The Nagaland government maintains that the RMSA teachers are “contingency” or contractual staff, not state cadre employees, and therefore not entitled to regular scale pay. The government affirmed that the appointment letters clearly stated that their service could be terminated at any time and that they would not receive the benefits of permanent employees.
Adviser to the School Education Department, Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, informed that among the total teaching workforce, 5,058 are teachers under central schemes who continue to receive minimal salaries, which are not fully funded by the Government of Nagaland.
The politician reiterated that the bond clearly stated that the teachers’ engagement is purely on a contractual basis, and their salary depends on the Government of Nagaland. When the central government reduced funding, Nagaland supplemented the shortfall to ensure full payment.
He said that as per the contract, the teachers agreed not to engage in any agitation for funds not released by the Centre and that they can be terminated if absent for more than 15 days and are not permitted to object to transfers within Nagaland. Under the terms of their engagement, they were also required to complete a B.Ed. course, as many were not trained teachers at the time of appointment.
Currently, the School Education Department receives a substantial portion of the state budget, around 8.5 to 9%, but the majority of these funds are allocated to salaries. He said that addressing the contingency teachers’ demands will have additional financial implications, though the government believes it is capable of considering their case.
He pointed out that the government has formed a committee at the departmental level to study the grievances and possible solutions while maintaining that the issue is sub judice, since the state filed a review petition in the Supreme Court.
However, the teachers rejected the government’s proposal to set up the committee, calling it a delay tactic, alleging that the state government had earlier ignored an out-of-court settlement. The teachers stressed that matters of “fixed pay” and “co-terminus” appointments have already been resolved by the courts. They noted that the Supreme Court upheld the Gauhati High Court’s ruling, directing the state to grant RMSA teachers equal pay under the principle of “equal pay for equal work.” The teachers argued that the government cannot treat them differently from other teachers performing the same duties with identical qualifications.
The RMSA-2016 teachers also accused the state government of being “double standard,” citing disparities compared to earlier batches from SSA 2010, SSA 2013, and RMSA 2013, who were regularised and placed on full pay scales. They demanded an explanation for why the RMSA-2016 teachers remain on fixed pay and are still treated as temporary employees.
Several civil society organisations have voiced support for the RMSA teachers. The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), on Wednesday, issued an ultimatum to the Government of Nagaland. The Federation gave the state government ten days to take all necessary and appropriate measures to ensure justice for the 367 RMSA 2016 batch teachers.
The NSF stated that continued neglect of the teachers’ grievances not only undermines their dignity as professionals but also contravenes the collective aspirations of the Naga people for quality education.
The Federation warned that if the government fails to comply within the stipulated period, it, with the full backing of its constituent bodies, will publicly denounce the inaction and pursue all democratic measures and forms of agitation necessary to safeguard the teachers’ rights and secure the justice they are owed.
However, the Adviser cautioned that past interventions by public organisations, particularly between 2010 and 2013, had created insecurity and complications by pressuring the government without understanding procedural requirements. He noted that while the department bears some responsibility, the issue is not the fault of a single entity.
He shared that he had informed the NSF that mediation would not be encouraged to avoid repeating mistakes made in the past. He stressed that solidarity is welcome, but the matter is strictly related to service rules and administrative procedures.
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