The Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF) has opposed the demand for regularisation of guest, ad hoc and contract teachers included in the All Nagaland College Teachers’ Association (ANGCTA)’s charter of demands, arguing that such a move would undermine merit-based recruitment to government colleges in the state.
The objection comes as ANGCTA-affiliated college units across Nagaland are observing a sit-in dharna on Friday, August 7, as part of a nationwide agitation by college and university teachers. Among the demands listed by ANGCTA is the regularisation of all working guest, ad hoc and contract teachers in universities and colleges across the country.
In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Secretary and the Minister of Higher Education, the NNQF said it had no objection to the other demands raised by ANGCTA but strongly objected to the demand for regularisation.
The forum argued that recruitment to the posts of Assistant Professor and Librarian in government colleges of Nagaland is governed by the state’s recruitment rules and UGC regulations, with appointments made through the Nagaland Public Service Commission’s Combined Educational Services Examination (CESE).
According to NNQF, regularisation of contractual appointments would deprive NET, SET and PhD-qualified aspirants of an opportunity to compete through the prescribed recruitment process.
The forum also alleged that a substantial number of contractual appointments in the Higher Education Department were made without public advertisement or an open and competitive selection process.
It said regularising such appointments would effectively legitimise what it described as “backdoor entry” into public service.
NNQF further referred to the controversy surrounding the proposed regularisation of 147 Assistant Professors and Librarians in government colleges in 2025, saying the issue had already led to statewide protests.
The forum questioned why ANGCTA was seeking regularisation again when, according to it, the government had already addressed the issue and the matter was being pursued in court.
NNQF has called on the state government to reject any proposal to regularise or absorb guest, ad hoc or contract teachers in government colleges and to uphold the NPSC CESE as the recruitment mechanism for Assistant Professor and Librarian posts.
It has also demanded the creation of posts against the 147 contractual Assistant Professors and their termination, along with a review of contractual appointments allegedly made without public advertisement or open competitive selection.
The forum said all existing and future vacancies should be filled through open advertisement and competitive recruitment conducted by the NPSC.
Meanwhile, ANGCTA’s August 7 sit-in is part of a wider programme referenced in a special circular issued by the All India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations (AIFUCTO).
Apart from regularisation of guest, ad hoc and contract teachers, ANGCTA’s charter includes demands for repeal of the National Education Policy 2020 and opposition to the proposed Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, constitution of the 8th UGC Pay Commission, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and increased government allocation to education.
The association has also demanded delinking of PhD qualifications from promotion to Associate Professor and Professor, redesignation of college librarians as faculty in Library and Information Science, a uniform retirement age of 65 for university and college teachers, extension of UGC pay scales and service conditions to teachers in grant-in-aid institutions, and greater faculty autonomy and democratic functioning in higher education institutions.
ANGCTA has also demanded immediate disbursement by the Union Government of its 50 per cent share of the 7th Pay Revision outlay to state governments.
The NNQF, however, has made clear that its objection is limited to the regularisation demand, maintaining that public employment should be filled through merit-based, transparent and competitive recruitment.
The forum has warned that it may resort to protests across the state if any attempt is made to implement the regularisation demand or bypass the NPSC CESE, while stating that it reserves the right to pursue lawful remedies on the issue.