Nagaland contracts teachers suffer setback as no timeline for regularisation process

Dimapur: The Nagaland Department of School Education has said it is unable to specify a timeline for the regularisation of ad hoc and contract teachers, pointing to the mandatory procedures laid down under the state’s one-time regularisation policy.

In a press release issued on February 18, the department reiterated that while the government is committed to addressing the concerns of the All Nagaland Adhoc Teachers Group of 2015 (ANATG-2015), the process requires detailed scrutiny. This includes verification of service records, examination of eligibility criteria, and adherence to established government norms.

ANATG-2015 represents 1,166 teachers appointed on an ad hoc or contractual basis under the School Education Department.

The department stated that particulars of 2,484 ad hoc and contract employees have been submitted to the Screening Committee constituted by the Personnel and Administrative Reforms (P&AR) Department. During the first phase of scrutiny, 235 employees — including 91 members of ANATG, were found to have furnished complete documentation. The remaining applicants have been asked to provide additional documents to proceed further.

The teachers’ body had earlier served an ultimatum demanding immediate regularisation and a clear deadline for completion of the process. However, the government maintained that all eligible employees must fulfil stipulated requirements before the proposal can be placed before the Cabinet. These include submission of appointment orders, proof of sanctioned posts, educational qualification certificates, clearance of suitability tests, antecedent verification, and medical fitness certification.

“In view of the procedural requirements involved, it is not possible to indicate a definite timeframe for regularisation at this stage,” the department said.

Following discussions with government officials, ANATG-2015 has, for the time being, suspended its agitation.