By Moa Jamir
The unfolding controversy surrounding the alleged absorption of contractual Assistant Professors in the Higher Education Department is nothing short of a monumental mess—one that points to serious systemic failures within the department and broader governance issues in Nagaland.
What began as administrative opacity has now snowballed into a polarising issue—pitting, arguably, the most educated cohort in the state against one another, and jeopardising the prospects of future intellectuals. At the heart of this crisis lies the department’s apparent disregard for due process, repeatedly marked by procedural lapses and questionable decisions.
The two key notifications allegedly issued on December 17, 2024, and April 8, 2025, by the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, triggered widespread reaction across the state. A hurried circular on April 10, which declared the April 8 notification “null and void,” rather than resolving the issue, only raised more questions.
Of particular concern is the fact that both the notifications and the withdrawal circular carried the "SD" (Signed) of the Nagaland Chief Secretary—yet the physical signatures belonged to other officials. This raises a fundamental question: Was the State’s top bureaucrat genuinely in the loop, or has the process been manipulated under his name? So far, the government has not disputed the authenticity of these documents, and in the absence of official clarification, they must be presumed genuine.
Back in January, the Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF) had raised alarms about the legality and fairness of the reported regularisation process in an open letter to the Governor of Nagaland, pointing to several pending writ petitions challenging such appointments. At the time, this column had noted that it remained to be seen whether the individuals being regularised were among those named in the legal petitions. The controversial April 8 notification confirms that they are.
This development brings into sharp relief the actions of the department, which—wilfully or otherwise—appear to be in direct violation of court orders. In the earliest writ petition filed in 2022, the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, had issued an interim order specifically prohibiting the regularisation of those impleaded as respondents. This order was further extended during each hearing. Yet, the April 8 absorption notification includes nearly all the names under legal scrutiny. Such blatant disregard for judicial restraint is not only alarming—it raises serious concerns about the culture of administrative impunity.
To be clear, this is not a commentary on the merit or credibility of the contractual teachers—some of whom have served diligently for years. The issue lies in the manner in which the administration has handled the matter, squeezing both parties between bureaucratic apathy and audacity.
The legal battle continues. Hearings are scheduled for April 16 and again in May. Precedents in related cases—such as those involving police personnel—indicate that the courts are unlikely to look kindly on irregular appointments made in violation of established procedure.
While the judiciary is expected to deliver clarity and closure, the deeper and more urgent task lies elsewhere. The State Government, and the Higher Education Department in particular, must undertake serious reforms to restore public trust. The stakes are high—not just for today’s educators and aspirants, but for generations of students whose futures depend on the credibility of public institutions. The controversial empanelment system at Delhi University (DU) can serve as both a cautionary tale and a model for transparent recruitment. It is time to clean up this mess—for the sake of fairness, legality, and the very integrity of public service in Nagaland.
For any feedback, drop a line to jamir.moa@gmail.com
