Lotha Hoho, Chang Khulei Setshang voice concern over teachers' agitation

DIMAPUR — The Lotha Hoho and Chang Khulei Setshang (CKS) have voiced concerns about the impact of the Nagaland RMSA Teachers' Association-2016's ongoing agitation on students, particularly with annual and selection exams approaching.

In a press release, the Lotha Hoho Wokha stated that thousands of students in as many as 133 Govt. schools all over Nagaland are attending classes without teachers, severely impacting the academic career of students.

The Hoho stated that as a welfare state, the state government is expected to uplift the rule of law and listen to the grievances and right of its citizens sanctioned by law.

“Deviations if any from this principle would amount to anarchy, exploitative and suppression which is alien to a welfare state.

“The RMSA — 2016 have been agitating for several days as of today, and the impasse is only jeopardising the students in whose schools these teachers are teaching and the fallout will immensely affect the governance of the state govt. at the end of the day,” the hoho stated.

Also read: Protesting RMSA teachers flay Nagaland government transfer orders

It also maintained that the state government is expected to comply with the Supreme Court's order dated May 28, 2025, regarding SLP (C) 19524/2022, to resolve the current impasse.

The Lotha Hoho urged the state government to adopt an accommodative and honourable approach to resolve issues, warning that a confrontational and uncompromising attitude would harm the well-being and careers of citizens, including students and teachers.

Further, the hoho appealed to the state government to exercise good sense, allowing citizens to live in peace and harmony, and enjoy the benefits of good governance and the rule of law.

Read more: RMSA 2016 pay row: Nagaland government clarifies status, urges teachers to resume duties

In a separate statement, the Chang Khulei Setshang (CKS) expressed solidarity with the RMSA-2016 teachers, who, though appointed through a competitive examination process, are now being denied their rightful benefits.

According to the CKS, the RMSA 2016 teachers approached the High Court in 2022 and secured a favourable verdict against the Nagaland government, with the court order WA09/2020 granting them scale pay and equal allowances.

This time too, the Government of Nagaland resorted to delay tactics by filing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, which ultimately upheld the High Court's previous verdict as per order No. 19524/2022, the CKS claimed.

Further, the CKS expressed concern that teachers were being forced to protest on the streets, leaving their classes, and attributed this situation to the government's failure, stressing that the government should uphold the law.

It urged the government to immediately address the issue to prevent harm to the future of thousands of students in the state, thereby avoiding a negative reflection on the government.