DNSU says not keeping quiet on ‘Arbitrary’ regularisation

April 16, 2025 13 Views No Comment

Matter will now be pursued by NSF

Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 16

The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) reiterated its opposition to the controversial regularisation of 147 ad hoc posts, including assistant professor and librarian posts, in the Higher Education Department by the state government. The alleged arbitrary appointments have created a public furore further blemishing the government’s recruitment process, which has come under question frequently over the years.

Contrary to public perception of a DNSU allegedly “keeping quiet” on the issue, the students body told a press conference on April 14 that it was among the first to openly censure the appointments and demand its immediate annulment, as expressed in its April 8 press statement. According to the DNSU, the contractual posts were regularised bypassing the standard appointment process through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC).

DNSU President, Hinoto P Aomi, maintained that the union raised the issue transparently for the benefit of all as a Naga-wide concern. “I’m not sure whether our contribution has made significance to the citizens of Nagaland, but I hope and believe that the citizens of the Nagaland should acknowledge the issues that we have touched transparently,” he said.

While acknowledging some past appointments might have occurred under “special consideration” due to urgency, he held that it cannot justify bypassing NPSC for such a large number of job regularisation without going through due procedure.

As per the terms of the contractual appointments, the engagements were made on a temporary basis till the posts were filled through the NPSC.

He said that the objection is not necessarily against the individuals, whose contractual jobs were regularised, but against undermining the NPSC recruitment process. According to him, it does not imply chucking out all the 147 appointees in one go, rather a staggered process that would allow them to continue serving and appear for the recruitment interview like any other fresh candidate.

“Let there be a proper appointment procedure,” he said while stating all the candidates, including the serving contractual appointees, go through the competitive recruitment process.

While the DNSU may have been among the first to press the alarm bell, he informed that the issue will now be pursued by the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF). This decision was taken at the 5th NSF Federal Assembly held Molungyimsen village, Mokokchung, on April 12.

The student leader also expressed concern about some college student councils supporting the government’s decision. He held that the student councils might be “innocent” and acting under pressure to support a flawed recruitment process, and urged them to clarify their stance.

The DNSU also admitted to meeting the Minister incharge of the Higher Education Department, the department in the centre of the regularisation controversy. Aomi said that the Minister, Temjen Imna Along Longkumer alone was not responsible. He however maintained that the DNSU was not convinced by the justifications provided for bypassing NPSC.