Kohima, February 19: The Department of School Education has reiterated that while the government remains committed to addressing the concerns of adhoc and contract teachers under the All Nagaland Adhoc Teachers Group of 2015 (ANATG-2015), their demands cannot be acceded to at this stage due to mandatory procedural requirements under the State’s one-time regularisation policy.
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| Members of ANATG-2015 stage a protest demanding immediate regularisation of services as per the 2022 HPC agreement with the Nagaland government. (Image: File Photo) |
In a press release issued on February 18, 2026, the Department stated that the regularisation process involves detailed scrutiny and verification of documents, confirmation of eligibility criteria, and compliance with uniform government guidelines applicable to all eligible adhoc and contract employees in Nagaland. As such, issuance of a specific date for regularisation, as demanded by ANATG, is not feasible at present.
The release outlined the chronology of events, noting that 1,166 adhoc/contract teachers appointed between the late 1990s and 2012 had undergone a suitability test in 2017 for regularisation. However, the process was halted following an order of the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, which restrained the State from regularising contract appointments. Subsequent Cabinet decisions deferred regularisation but granted financial benefits, including doubling of fixed salaries and scale pay under the 6th ROP, 2010.
In 2024, the State adopted a one-time policy for regularisation of contract/adhoc employees appointed prior to June 6, 2016, against sanctioned posts, following Cabinet approval and a resolution of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly. A Screening Committee was constituted to process applications.
The Department informed that details of 2,484 adhoc/contract employees were forwarded for screening. So far, 235 employees, including 91 from ANATG, have had their documents verified as complete for the initial stage, with further documentation required for the next phase.
Despite several rounds of discussions with ANATG leaders, including meetings with the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister, the Department maintained that regularisation must follow due process. The one-time policy requires submission and verification of appointment orders, sanctioned post details, educational qualifications, suitability tests, antecedent verification, medical fitness certificates, and Cabinet approval.
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While ANATG had issued ultimatums and threatened agitation, including a hunger strike, the group has currently suspended its protest pending further consultation.
The Department reiterated that the government is actively processing the matter but cannot commit to a definite timeframe for regularisation until all statutory and procedural requirements are fulfilled.
