Nuta vs. Kohima administration threatens to turn ugly

Dimapur, May 23 (EMN): The tussle between the Kohima district administration and the teachers of Nagaland University turned confrontational on Friday after the latter were served what has been dubbed ‘illegal show cause notice’ by the deputy commissioner (DC).

A press release from the central executive council of Nagaland University Teachers Association (Nuta) informed that 13 teachers from the university were served with show cause notices by the DC on May 24 seeking replies within one day.

“The association questions the authority of the DC on threatening disciplinary action on central university teachers for being found absent for training (for the Lok Sabha by-election),” it stated. The Nuta reiterated that central university teachers were exempt from election duty to protect the political rights of the teachers.

“The association also condemns the misinterpretation of section 159 of RP act 1951 by the deputy chief electoral officer Nagaland for the fact that university teachers are not ‘staff.’ The only personnel working on the administration side in universities as staff are clerks, office assistants, account officers, assistant registrars, deputy registrars and joint registrars whose services can be requisitioned.

“The University Grants Commission Act and Regulations clearly identifies teachers differently and therefore the deputy CEO is totally wrong if not illegal in treating teachers as staff. The NUTA demands for unconditional revocation of show cause notices served on all affected teachers by DC Kohima.”

Also, the teachers demanded exemption of election duty for 17 teachers from Kohima campus, 13 from Medziphema campus and 15 from the Lumami HQ. If the demands are ignored, it warned that the association will demand from the Election Commission of India re-polling in all polling stations where university teachers have been deputed as presiding officers; re-polling in all constituencies where university teachers have been deputed as micro observers, and recounting in all polling stations where university teachers have been deputed as counting officers.

The Federation of Central University Teachers Associations (FEDCUTA) also issued a statement condemning the notices issued and have demanded ‘immediate unconditional withdrawal.’

“The FEDCUTA has written to the Visitor, the (honourable) president of India, the vice-chancellor of Nagaland University, the chief minister of Nagaland, and the chief election commissioner on the matter seeking their intervention.”