Nagaland’s Integrity Crucified: CTAN, NNQF Seek Immediate Cancellation of Controversial ‘Backdoor’ Recruitment Order

Nagaland’s Higher Education Sector Embroiled in Recruitment Row

In a move that has sent shockwaves through Nagaland’s higher education sector, the Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) and the Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF) have launched a scathing attack on the state government’s decision to regularize appointments made under a controversial Government Order (GO) No. HTE/HE/13-3/2020(Pt-1) dated December 17, 2024. The order allowed for the absorption and regularization of what local media has dubbed "backdoor appointees" into the posts of Assistant Professors and Librarians, sparking widespread outrage among the academic community.

According to sources, a notification (No. HTE/HE/13-4-3/2020 (Pt-II)/51) issued on December 18, 2024, listed a total of 147 individuals whose appointments were regularized under the said order. CTAN and NNQF have fiercely opposed the move, citing a lack of transparency and fairness in the appointments. In a pointed press statement, the organizations urged the Department of Higher Education to honor the Office Memorandum No. AR-5/ASSO/98 dated June 6, 2016, issued by the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms (P&AR), which imposed a blanket ban on contract appointments across government departments.

"There is a clear disregard for the norms and merit-based recruitment," said CTAN spokesperson. "Regularizing these appointments undermines academic standards and denies opportunities to qualified candidates who have cleared national-level eligibility criteria. It’s a betrayal of trust and a slap in the face for those who have toiled to clear the NET exam." The organizations have given the state government an ultimatum: revoke the December 17, 2024 order and terminate all appointments made under this provision within a fortnight. Failure to do so will lead to a statewide protest outside the Directorate of Higher Education starting April 16, 2025.

As the debate rages on, experts warn that the high-stakes protest could have major implications for the state’s education sector. "The repercussions of this order could be far-reaching, affecting not just the immediate appointees but the future of the entire education system in Nagaland," said a local education expert. While the state government remains mum on the issue, CTAN and NNQF remain steadfast in their determination to protect the interests of NET-qualified candidates and ensure merit-based recruitment in Nagaland’s higher education sector.

In the crosshairs of the controversy are the very principles of fair play and academic integrity. Can the state government heed the warning and address the grievances of the protesting organizations or will the dispute escalate further? Only time will tell, but for now, the spotlight remains firmly on Nagaland’s higher education sector, where the stakes are high, and the future hangs in the balance.

Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/nagaland/story/nagaland-ctan-nnqf-urge-cancellation-of-government-order-regularizing-backdoor-appointments-1198188-2025-04-12?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-04-12 23:12:00