Tourism and Higher Education minister Temjen Imna Along has defended the state government’s decision-making process amid mounting protests over the regularisation of 147 contractual Assistant Professors and Librarians, asserting that government actions are taken after due deliberation and are not arbitrary.
Speaking to media persons on Monday during the inauguration of ‘The Mirage Hotel’ in Kohima, Along responded to growing criticism surrounding the controversial absorption order that has sparked protests led by the Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN), Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF), and other student bodies.
“Sometimes, it may not be very easy for us to make decisions, but when the government makes its decisions, it is not taken by chance,” he said. He emphasized that policy decisions follow a structured process rooted in governance, dialogue, and public welfare.
Acknowledging the seriousness of the ongoing protests, Along said the cabinet had already deliberated on the issue and constituted a competent committee to engage with stakeholders and study the matter thoroughly.
“Our community is not only for what is right, but is also committed and persistent in the peaceful invocation of one’s needs and aspirations by sitting across the table and justifying our needs,” he stated.
He further appealed for calm and patience, reaffirming that the government under chief minister Neiphiu Rio is committed to transparency and the broader welfare of the people.
His remarks come at a time when tensions continue to escalate, with students and civil society groups demanding immediate revocation of the regularisation order and restoration of a merit-based recruitment process.
State govt notifies
DIMAPUR, APR 22 (NPN): The department of Higher and Technical Education has officially notified that the absorption orders of 147 assistant professors and librarians have been kept in abeyance with immediate effect, following a Cabinet directive issued on April 21, 2025, a DIPR report stated.
According to the notification, the absorption orders—earlier approved by the State Cabinet on September 12, 2024, and issued on December 17, 2024—have been put on hold in light of numerous complaints and objections raised against the process.