DIMAPUR, AUG 12 (NPN): All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) has expressed opposition to any proposal to delink Ph.D. qualification from the prescribed criteria for promotion to associate professor and professor, as well as any blanket regularisation of guest, ad hoc and contract lecturers in the state’s higher education sector.
In a representation addressed to the chief secretary, ANCSU president Kivika Yeptho and general secretary Sotilo Tep said the proposal was inconsistent with the Nagaland Higher Education Service Rules, 2015, and applicable University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations.
The union said the Nagaland Higher Education Service Rules and UGC regulations recognise Ph.D. qualification as an important requirement for advancement to senior academic positions. It said Ph.D. was mandatory for appointment and promotion to professor, while promotion from assistant professor at selection grade/academic level 12 to associate professor at academic level 13A also required a Ph.D. in the concerned, allied or relevant discipline, along with prescribed teaching experience, academic contributions, publications and other criteria.
ANCSU said any attempt to dilute these qualifications without a clear statutory and regulatory basis could adversely affect teaching quality, research, academic supervision and institutional governance. It also warned that such a move could undermine public confidence in the credibility of academic appointments and promotions.
The union also opposed the regularisation of all serving guest, ad hoc and contract lecturers, while acknowledging their contribution to academic activities and students.
ANCSU said a blanket regularisation policy could deprive thousands of qualified aspirants of an opportunity to enter the teaching profession through a fair and competitive selection process.
It urged the state government and concerned department to reject any proposal to delink Ph.D. qualification from promotion criteria for associate professor and professor and not initiate regularisation of serving guest, ad hoc or contract lecturers.
The union further called for future recruitment to government college teaching posts to be conducted through NPSC.
ANCSU said its position was not intended to undermine the legitimate service interests of the teaching fraternity but to preserve the rules governing higher education and balance the interests of faculty members, students and aspiring candidates.
Thursday, August 13, 2026