Amid the ongoing controversy over the alleged decision of the state government to absorb long-serving contractual assistant professors into regular service, the Kohima Science College Students’ Union (KSCSU) has formally withdrawn its earlier support, citing the need to maintain “neutrality” on the issue.
In a clarification issued on April 11, the KSCSU said its previous statement dated April 9 had been made “in good faith” in response to concerns raised at the time. However, after “careful consideration of the broader issues at stake,” it said the statement should now be considered “null and void ab initio.”
The union emphasized that it does not intend to take any stance that could be interpreted as either in support of or in opposition to any party involved. “We recognize the complexities surrounding the matter and understand that various stakeholders, including the Government and the teaching faculty, are working towards the betterment of higher education in the state,” the KSCSU stated.
The KSCSU further said its “utmost priority” remains the academic welfare of students and the preservation of a peaceful, respectful campus environment. “We trust the competent authorities to take decisions in the best interest of all concerned and hope for a fair and amicable resolution to the issue at hand,” it added.
Earlier, students’ councils from at least four government colleges — including Dimapur Government College, Kohima Science College Jotsoma, Sao Chang College Tuensang, and Zunheboto Government College — had submitted near-identical letters to the Department of Higher Education, expressing strong support for the alleged move to regularize contractual faculty, citing the need to address teacher shortages and recognize the contributions of long-serving contract teachers.
Adding to the developments, the Naga Students’ Union Mizoram (NSUM) on Friday, April 11, extended firm support to the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU), which had earlier raised concerns about alleged irregularities in the recruitment process. In a statement, the NSUM expressed “deep disappointment” over what it called a lack of transparency, fairness, and adherence to merit-based selection standards, and urged an immediate, impartial review of the process.
“Nepotism, favoritism, or political interference in public recruitment violates the principles of justice and also undermines the future of qualified youth who have worked hard to meet academic and professional standards,” the NSUM said.
Meanwhile, the situation remains uncertain following a clarification issued by Chief Secretary Dr. J Alam, IAS, on April 10, stating that a notification circulating on social media regarding the posting of assistant professors had not been officially issued by his office and should be considered “null and void until further orders.”