The ongoing protest here under the banner of Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) and the Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF) entered its fourth day on Thursday before being called off following a meeting with Higher Education minister Temjen Imna Along in the evening.
The protest was in opposition to the state government’s decision to regularise 147 contractual assistant professors and librarians without following the open recruitment process.
The symbolic demonstration outside the Directorate of Higher Education office here drew widespread public attention, as the protestors staged a dramatic act featuring a coffin-shaped prop bearing the words “RIP Meritocracy.”
The protestors also held placards denouncing “illegal appointments” that compromised merit-based recruitment in the higher education sector. They marched from the Civil Secretariat tri-junction to the directorate, culminating in a symbolic service where eulogies were delivered by scholars and aspirants.
Speaking to a section of the media, CTAN core member Meshenlo Kath confirmed that a joint delegation of CTAN and NNQF representatives had earlier met chief secretary J Alam, who had extended a formal invitation for dialogue.
The meeting, held at the secretariat, was attended by senior state government officials, including the home commissioner and ex-officio director of Higher Education.
Kath said the chief secretary informed the delegation that the cabinet decision to regularise the 147 employees had been kept in abeyance and that they would continue to serve in contractual capacity only.
However, he stated that the organisations demanded further clarity. “If they are on contract, it should be strictly limited to a 12-month term, or the posts should be filled through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC)—whichever comes first.
We urged the government to requisition all these posts to the NPSC immediately,” he elaborated. Despite the chief secretary’s assurance that a five-member committee would examine the matter within eight weeks, Kath expressed scepticism over the government’s intentions.
He cited previous government orders that prohibited contractual recruitment and then allowed regularisation of those who had served more than 10 years. He claimed that the current move violated these directives as well.
The demonstrators dispersed around 4 pm after the CTAN and NNQF received an informal communication — not any official letter — from the minister concerned requesting a meeting.
Following the meeting, the two organisations announced their decision to call off the protest planned for April 25.
Protest called off
In an official statement, the CTAN and NNQF confirmed that a delegation met Along, who reportedly gave a verbal assurance that the cabinet order to absorb the 147 contractual assistant professors and librarians would be revoked and that the file in this regard would be put up by the early hours of April 25, 2025.
“In light of the minister’s assurance, we have decided to call off the agitation proposed on April 25,” the organisations announced. They reiterated their commitment to safeguarding the interests of aspirants in Nagaland, and extended gratitude to all unions, associations, organisations, individuals, and well-wishers who supported their cause.
NSF meets CS, HPC
Meanwhile, in parallel developments, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) held separate meetings with the chief secretary and High Powered Committee (HPC) to discuss the same issue.
Confirming this to Nagaland Post, an NSF office-bearer stated that the chief secretary had requested the student body to withdraw its seven-day ultimatum, which would expire on April 28.
However, he said the NSF declined the request and stuck to its demand for the revocation of the regularisation order.
He mentioned that the federation was firm in its position, insisting that the appointments violated principles of fairness and transparency, and must be reversed through appropriate channels.
Meanwhile, the NSF has convened a presidential meeting with its federating units on April 25 to discuss the issue and decide the next course of action through a consensus.