ORGANIZATIONS DEMAND FAIR RECRUITMENT THROUGH NPSC
Despite the Higher and Technical Education department retracting its April 8, 2025 notification on the posting of assistant professors, strong opposition continues over the state government’s move to regularise 147 contractual assistant professors and librarians.
The chief secretary, Dr. J Alam, clarified that his office had not officially issued the said notification, and declared it “null and void” until further orders.
NSF: In a letter to the chief secretary, NSF president Medovi Rhi and general secretary Chumben Khuvung expressed their firm objection and unequivocal condemnation of the September 11, 2024 cabinet decision approving the absorption of 151 assistant professors serving on fixed pay under the Department of Higher Education as a one-time dispensation.
They recalled that the NSF had through several representations and public statements categorically opposed such arbitrary and unjustified regularisation, and had particularly recommended that the department concerned revoke any such proposal.
Hence, they expressed alarm that the Higher Education minister and the state cabinet had chosen to override these recommendations and proceed in blatant disregard of the core values of meritocracy, transparency, and fairness.
They questioned the moral and administrative integrity of the department concerned for choosing to act against the interest of thousands of qualified and deserving aspirants who continued to prepare for recruitment through legitimate and competitive means.
They asked why the department had still not revoked the order, despite the demand been placed forth by the NSF, the most recent communiqué having been conveyed on April 8 this year during a meeting with the department.
Pointing out that their opposition to this form of absorption was not new, they pointed out of having consistently voiced concern over the years, clearly stating that such backdoor regularisation processes were detrimental to the aspirations of educated Naga youth, and eroded public trust in the system.
Noting that the Department of Higher Education was one of the most crucial arms of the state government in shaping the intellectual, academic, and professional foundation of the society, the NSF leaders lamented that the department under the current leadership had failed to uphold the very objectives for which it existed.
They maintained that the department had not only violated the principles of fair recruitment by pushing for this regularisation, but also tarnished its credibility. They said they viewed this action as vested interest, lacking transparency, and grossly unfair to aspiring candidates.
Hence, in the interest of justice and fairness, the duo demanded immediate revocation of the cabinet decision, urging the state government to requisition all sanctioned posts to the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) immediately.
They warned that upon failure to act upon this demand, they would be compelled to initiate democratic measures to safeguard the interests of the aspirants and student community.
NLSF: Nagaland Law Students’ Federation (NLSF) has strictly opposed regularisation and absorption of 147 contractual assistant professors and librarians, demanding revocation of the state government’s December 17, 2024 order in this regard.
In a representation to the chief secretary, NLSF president T Tohuka Achumi, and vice-presidents Tiakumzuk and Romika V Zhimomi opposed absorption or regularisation of any post within the purview of Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) and Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) without following established recruitment rules.
Acknowledging the subsequent declaration of the notification regarding regularisation and absorption of the 147 posts as null and void, they said the initial attempt had raised legal questions and underscored the urgent need for a transparent and legally sound recruitment process moving forward.
They expressed concern over any action that appeared to circumvent established legal procedures and undermined the principles of fairness and equal opportunity enshrined in the Constitution of India and relevant service rules of the state.
They pointed out that the attempted regularisation without adhering to the mandated recruitment processes through the NPSC raised several critical legal and ethical issues.
According to them, this violated Article 14 of the Indian constitution, as it was discriminatory and violative of the fundamental rights to equality before law and equal opportunity in matters of public employment.
The action also seemingly disregarded the established rules and regulations governing the recruitment of public servants in Nagaland, for which the NPSC was the designated authority.
Pointing out that the action attempted to bypass established legal frameworks, which eroded public trust in the fairness and integrity of governmental process, they said regularisation or absorption of Class-I post was a thing of the past, insisting that the government should not entertain such non-ethical practices, especially in the Higher Education Department.
The trio stressed that upholding the rule of law and ensuring a fair and transparent recruitment process was crucial for the progress and integrity of Nagaland’s higher education system.
Demanding cancellation of the December 17, 2024 government order that permitted the absorption and reaffirm its commitment to conducting a fair transparent and legally-sound recruitment process for 147 posts of assistant professor and librarian in the Department of Higher Education, they sought a clear public statement outlining the reason for the initial regularisation attempt and the measures taken to prevent such irregularities in the future.
They declared that the NLSF would not remain a silent spectator if the idea of favouritism, nepotism and backdoor entry into regular service ever arose again. They said they believed in the chief secretary’s credibility and the state government’s vision for a fair and transparent administration and governance.
NSA: The Naga Scholars’ Association (NSA) has expressed deep concern over the recent notification by the department of Higher Education, which approved the absorption of 147 contractual faculty members into tenured assistant professor positions in government colleges across Nagaland.
In a press release, NSA general secretary Dr. Apila Sangtam, noted that while it recognizes the contributions of contractual faculty members, it strongly emphasized that permanent academic appointments must be rooted in fair, transparent, and merit-based recruitment procedures.
The association said that upholding such standards is vital to maintaining the credibility and integrity of the higher education system in the state.
NSA further stated that the issuance of a subsequent notification on April 10, nullifying the earlier decision, suggested lack of procedural clarity that highlighted the need for greater administrative coherence and accountability.
NSA said that such administrative ambiguity and ad hoc decision-making impact public trust and faith in institutions responsible for shaping the future of education in the state.
“As educators and scholars, we believe that fostering critical thinking and a culture of fairness is fundamental to preparing responsible and ethical citizens,” NSA said, adding that institutional ethics, accountability, and clear processes were pillars of democratic institutions.
While urging the government to reaffirm its commitment to due process and transparency in all academic appointments, NSA also appealed to the government to recognize the contributions and provide sustainable long-term solutions to contractual teachers.
NSA, therefore, called for establishment of clear, equitable recruitment mechanism that allows all qualified candidates a fair opportunity to serve in the higher education institutions of the state.
“Let us work together to ensure that our academic institutions remain places of excellence, integrity, and opportunity for all,” NSA stated.
DSSU: The Dimapur Sümi Students’ Union (DSSU) said it shared the concern of the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) over the absorption of 147 assistant professors in the Department of Higher Education.
Stating that they believed that the absorption process should be transparent, fair, and merit-based, DSSU president Ikiye I Awomi and general secretary Ighato Awomi in a statement declared support to the DNSU’s stance on ensuring transparency and fairness in the absorption process.
They stressed verifying the qualifications and eligibility of the absorbed assistant professors, stating that they were concerned about the potential impact on students and the quality of education in Nagaland.
Urging the authorities concerned to reconsider the absorption process and ensure that it was conducted in a fair and transparent manner, they called on the government to provide more information about the decision-making process and the criteria used for selecting the assistant professors.
They asserted that the DSSU was committed to working with the DNSU and other stakeholders to ensure that the rights of students and employees were protected.