CTAN, NNQF dialogue on non-requisition of 147 posts

The Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) and the Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF) on Saturday organised a public dialogue in Kohima to address ongoing grievances surrounding the state government’s failure to requisition 147 assistant professor and librarian posts in government colleges.
The event saw participation from aspirants, civil society members, and academic and social leaders from across Nagaland. The panel included peace activist Niketu Iralu, retired professor and former NU pro-vice chancellor G.T. Thong, social activists Kahuto Chishi and Robert N. Solo, NNQF core member Videkhono Yhokha, and CTAN convenor Meshenlo Kath. The dialogue was moderated by Lungleng.
The discussion comes amid continued protests led by CTAN and NNQF and the state government’s recent decision to revoke appointments of contractual lecturers, which the groups claim were made without following due recruitment processes.
Providing context, NNQF core member Lereteu Khutsoh outlined the origins of the movement, which began in 2018 when 68 asst. professors sanctioned posts remained unadvertised. The number has since risen to 147, prompting growing public concern.
Addressing the gathering, peace advocate Niketu Iralu emphasized the need for fairness and transparency in public administration. He acknowledged the pain and frustration experienced by the protesting aspirants and warned that sustaining such a movement requires resilience and long-term vision.
“The prolonged protest reflects deep frustration, bitterness and outrage in those who conducted the most demanding, costly protest and in those who questioned or opposed it,” Iralu stated.
Social activist Kahuto Chishi highlighted the pervasive injustices in society, attributing some of the challenges to the complexities arising from Nagaland’s diverse tribal makeup. He expressed doubt over the state government’s willingness to initiate the requisition process, suggesting that legal recourse through the courts might be the only viable solution to address the issue.
Retired academician Prof. G.T. Thong spoke about the acute shortage of qualified faculty in government colleges and suggested that guest lecturers could be appointed transparently as a temporary measure while the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) processes permanent appointments. He also critiqued the current NPSC Common Education Service Examination (CESE) system, suggesting that candidates who have cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET) should be exempted from the written test.
Thong further warned of risks associated with placing excessive weight on written exams, citing a past paper leak incident in the state. He also raised questions about the competency of the current political leadership in the Higher Education department, calling for more qualified oversight.
He stressed that public movements like this are essential for promoting transparency and pushing for a “clean” government.
Social activist Robert N. Solo, representing the Kezekevi Thehou Ba (KTB) group, lent strong support to the movement, stating, “This is a small tablet to heal Nagaland.” He cautioned the government against provoking the youth, stressing that the plight of CTAN and NNQF aspirants should not be repeated in future recruitment processes.
CTAN convenor Meshenlo Kath highlighted contradictions in RTI responses regarding sanctioned teaching posts and alleged political interference in the affairs of the NPSC. He also criticised the Commission for prioritising infrastructure expansion over reforming its recruitment mechanism.
NNQF core member Videkhono Yhokha pointed to flaws in the current CESE marking formula, which allocates 45% to the written exam, 40% to academic records, and 15% to interviews. She alleged discrepancies in the awarding of academic scores and potential bias in interviews. Yhokha proposed an alternate model– 70% weight for written exams, 20% for academics, and 10% for interviews– and called for clarity on eligibility rules for allied subjects in faculty recruitment.
The event concluded with participants signing a petition demanding that the state government ensure transparency, uphold the principles of equal opportunity, and immediately requisition the 147 vacant posts to the NPSC for fair recruitment.