Assistant Professors’ regularization row: NU students and scholars’ forums demand cancellation of 17 Dec order

As controversy grows over the Nagaland government’s decision to absorb contractual Assistant Professors and Librarians into regular service through a cabinet notification dated December 17, 2024, several student and research bodies have raised their concerns. The Nagaland University Students’ Union, Lumami (NUSU-L), along with the Nagaland University Research Scholars’ Forums of Lumami (NURSF-L) and Kohima (NURSF-K), have issued separate but coordinated statements, strongly condemning the move. They argue that the decision to absorb these contractual staff without conducting open competitive examinations through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) constitutes a violation of UGC regulations and constitutional provisions.

In a statement released on Sunday, NURSF-K stated: “We are deeply concerned and disappointed by the issuance of Nagaland Government Order No. HTE/HE/13-3/2020(Pt-1) 104 dated 17 December 2024, followed by Notification No. HTE/HE/134-3/2020(P1-11)/51 dated 18th December 2024, through which 147 Assistant Professors/Librarians were absorbed into regular service without following the mandatory recruitment process laid out in the UGC Regulations.”

The Forum strongly criticized the decision, citing a violation of UGC Guidelines (No.F.3-1/2009), specifically Clause 3.1.0, which mandates that recruitment for the posts of Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Professors must be based on merit through all-India advertisements and selection by duly constituted Selection Committees. NURSF-K emphasized that: “These procedures are vital for maintaining the transparency, fairness, and credibility of higher education recruitment in the country.”

The Forum further expressed its frustration with the nature of the absorption, which it believes undermines the aspirations of many deserving candidates. “The arbitrary absorption of contractual appointees not only violates these statutory guidelines but also undermines the aspirations of hundreds of deserving NET-qualified and PhD holders who are awaiting fair recruitment opportunities,” the statement noted.

Additionally, NURSF-K drew attention to an Office Memorandum No. AR-5/ASSO/98 dated 6th June 2016, issued by the P&AR Department, which places a ban on contract appointments. “As scholars, we are deeply invested in the integrity of academic and research standards in our state,” the Forum stated.

In light of these concerns, NURSF-K demanded immediate cancellation of the Government Order dated 17th December 2024 permitting the absorption of contractual Assistant Professors/Librarians; Assurance from the Government of Nagaland that all future recruitment in higher education will strictly adhere to UGC norms, with proper advertisement and open competition.

The Forum called upon “the concerned authorities, academic institutions, civil society, and fellow citizens to stand in defense of a fair, transparent, and merit-based education system in Nagaland.”

The Nagaland University Research Scholars’ Forum, Lumami (NURSF-L), pointed to the appointment orders notified under Order No. HTE/HE/13-3/2020 (Pt-1) dated December 17, 2024, and a subsequent posting order (No. HTE/HE/134-3/2020 (Pt-11)/351) dated April 8, 2025. However, they noted that the Additional Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Higher and Technical Education Department, rejected these postings through an order dated April 10, 2025, stating that the notification had “not been officially issued by the Department.”

Despite the rejection, NURSF-L expressed apprehension that the candidates listed “might still be regularized and absorbed in the future.”

“Nagaland University being the only Central University in the state producing PhD scholars, … this issue is a direct threat to academic integrity, research excellence, and the aspirations of hundreds of qualified candidates,” the Forum stated.

Emphasizing the right to equal opportunity in public employment under Article 16(1) and (2) of the Indian Constitution, NURSF-L asserted that “professional merit must always prevail over favoritism.”

Nagaland University Students’ Union, Lumami (NUSU-L) in a statement issued on Sunday, stated that the decision, carried out despite ongoing legal proceedings and strong public opposition, directly undermines the principles of transparency, meritocracy, and equal opportunity that form the backbone of a fair and credible education system.

The Union expressed concern that the move disregards the aspirations of many deserving youth, including National Eligibility Test (NET) and PhD holders, who have worked tirelessly to meet national academic standards but now face systemic exclusion due to non-merit-based appointments.

Extending solidarity to other organizations raising their voices against the issue, NUSU-L declared full support to the Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF), the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU), and other concerned student and civil society bodies.

MT