The standoff between the Nagaland government and technical associations deepened on Monday as protests escalated in Kohima over the controversial absorption of 147 contractual Assistant Professors and Librarians into regular posts. Members of the Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) and the Nagaland Net Qualified Forum (NNQF) continued their sit-in demonstration for the third consecutive day outside the Directorate of Higher Education, refusing to vacate the protest site despite government assurances. Tempers flared after the Nagaland Cabinet, in an emergency meeting held at Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s residence earlier in the evening, decided to constitute a high-level review committee. The committee, comprising senior bureaucrats, has been given seven to eight weeks to examine the legality and process of the faculty absorption and submit its report. Until then, the absorption order will remain in abeyance.
Addressing the media, Government spokesperson and Minister KG Kenye appealed for calm, stating, “We urge all stakeholders to allow the review committee to complete its work. The matter is being dealt with seriously. Let good sense prevail.” However, his statement did little to placate the protestors. CTAN President Meshenlo Kath flatly rejected the committee formation, stating it was a delay tactic. “This issue does not require further review—it demands immediate action. The regularization of 147 faculty members without following due recruitment process is unjust and a violation of UGC norms,” he said. Protestors have called for the immediate cancellation of the government’s regularization order and demanded transparent recruitment through proper procedures.
Carrying banners with slogans such as “Merit Over Manipulation” and “Justice for Qualified Candidates,” the protestors maintained a peaceful but determined vigil through the night. Many were seen camping in front of the Directorate, braving the cold evening and vowing not to leave until their demands were met. Adding to the pressure on the government, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), which participated in a stakeholder meeting with Higher Education Minister Temjen Imna Along earlier in the day, issued a seven-day ultimatum. NSF officials later told reporters that the government must revoke the controversial order or face intensified agitation. “This is not just about one notification—it’s about safeguarding merit and the future of education in Nagaland,” an NSF spokesperson said. The meeting, held at Minister Along’s residence, was also attended by members of the All Nagaland Government Teachers Association and top officials from the Higher Education Department. However, no concrete resolution emerged from the discussion.
Meanwhile, protestors have also demanded that Minister Temjen Imna Along personally address them at the protest site. The call reflects growing frustration among NET-qualified candidates and unemployed youth who see the government’s move as undermining years of hard work and academic preparation. CTAN and allied bodies argue that the absorption of the 147 contractual staff, who were allegedly regularized without open advertisement or competitive interviews, violates both state and national guidelines for public recruitment in higher education. They claim that many deserving candidates who cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET) have been sidelined.
