Kohima, September 15 (MExN): The Department of School Education, Nagaland, in a press release issued through the State IPR on Monday specified that the RMSA Graduate Teachers of 2016 batch were engaged as contractual teachers in 2016 under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the erstwhile Ministry of Human Resource Development, GOI.
The department in it release stated that these Graduate Teachers were recruited through an open recruitment process of advertisement and written examination conducted by the Nagaland Education Mission Society. On selection, fully understanding the nature of engagement, the teachers accepted the terms and conditions supported by Affidavit acknowledging that their tenure was co terminus with the scheme and the salary was subject to annual fund release of the Ministry, GOI. Accordingly, they were engaged by the Nagaland Education Mission Society, the implementing agency.
The engagements so made were against posts created for the CSS Scheme and not against substantive posts under the State Cadre of the Department of School Education. On the acceptance of the service conditions, the teachers were paid a fixed salary of Rs 31,315 PM, it clarified.
It has further stated that in 2018, with the integration of the three flagship CSS programmes viz RMSA, SSA and Teacher Education into Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, GOl reduced the salary support for Graduate Teachers to Rs 25000 PM. Consequently, the salary of the RMSA Teachers of 2016 was reduced to Rs 25000 PM.
Aggrieved, the petitioners approached the Guwahati High Court, Kohima Bench challenging the reduction in pay and seeking direction for grant of scale pay. On May 20, 2020, the High Court quashed the OM on reduction of pay but did not agree to the grant of scale pay, it stated.
Therefore, in compliance to the Court's Order, the Nagaland Education Mission Society continued to pay the RMSA Teachers Rs 31,315 PM till date, with partial funding from Ministry of Education, GOl and the shortfall met by the State Government. The RMSA teachers filed another case WA © NO.((K) 2020 in 2022 seeking grant of pay band Rs 9300-34800 with GP Rs 4200 PM. The Court in its order dated 16.3.2022 directing the Respondents to grant scale pay.
The press release additionally stated that since 2022-23, GOI changed the funding pattern for financial support towards teacher’s salary with 5% annual incremental reduction leading to decrease in Salary support in absolute terms from Rs 25,000 PM to Rs 18,750 PM as on date. Against the initial funding ratio of 90: 10 between Centre/State, the ratio is now 60:40 with increased financial burden on the State Government.
In this backdrop, the State filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court against the verdict of the Guwahati High Court. On 20.5.2025, the Supreme Court upheld the order of the Guwahati High Court. Upon receipt of the Supreme Court's order, the State Government preferred to file a Review Petition on 14.8.2025.
To resolve the impasse, a meeting was held on September 2 and 3, 2025 with the aggrieved teachers in the presence of Adviser, School Education & SCERT requesting them to resume classes since the State Government has preferred to file a Review Petition.
The Department also specified that on September 11, 2025, a joint meeting was convened by Commissioner & Secretary, School Education with representatives of ANSTA, RMSA 2016 batch and officers of School Education Department.
“In the meeting, the aggrieved teachers were apprised of the status and assured that once the Supreme Court passes its order in the Review Petition, the Government shall honour the Court's Verdict and requested them to resume their duties,” it added.
