Flags nearly 100 alleged backdoor appointments in 17
departments
NSF officials addressing a press conference on Thursday at
NSF office in Kohima. (EM Images)
KOHIMA — The Naga
Students’ Federation (NSF) on Thursday condemned the absorption of the 147
assistant professors under the department of Higher Education, and demanded a
rollback of the Cabinet decision that had enabled the move.
This was stated during a press conference addressed by NSF
Vice President Mteisuiding Heraang along with General Secretary Chumben
Khuvung, Assistant General Secretary Kenilo Kent, and Secretary of Publicity
and Information Pithungo Shitio at its office in Kohima.
Heraang stated that the NSF had submitted a representation
to the state government through the Chief Secretary on April 14 and hoped that
the government would respond positively.
It expressed objection to the decision taken by the Cabinet
on September 11, 2024, approving the adoption of 151 assistant professors
serving on fixed pay under the department of Higher Education as a one-time
dispensation.
It reiterated that the NSF has given several
representations, but the government was reluctant to hear the voice of the
people and went ahead to regularise the service of the 147 assistant professors
on December 17, 2024.
He said that when the NSF had met the minister in charge in
October last year and made it clear that it didn’t support the absorption, the
minister assured them to keep the matter in abeyance and go for further
consultation. But the government went ahead with the decision, he added.
Pithungo Shitio hit out at the government for taking the
decision of absorption through a “hide and seek policy.”
Reiterating that the federation will ensure the revocation
of the decision to absorb the assistant professors, he warned that if the state
government remains adamant, it will initiate its own course of action.
Shitio pointed out that contractual appointments started way
back in 2009, and initially, they were drawing a salary of INR 8,000—which was
enhanced to INR 12,000 and subsequently to INR 20,000—while in the year 2020,
it went up to INR 30,000.
He added that the federation understands the sentiment of
the contracted lecturers and that it is not seeking termination but demanding
the state government to roll back its cabinet decision and let the assistant
professors continue on a contractual basis.
Also, the NSF flagged close to a hundred alleged backdoor
appointments in 17 government departments.
Heraang alleged that despite the federation’s efforts, there
are still rampant appointments being made in various departments. He
highlighted that the NSF had submitted a representation to the chief secretary
on April 10, urging action on the matter.
Shitio informed that the findings were part of the first
phase of the federation’s initiative.
He further stated that a one-month period was given to the
chief secretary for all defaulting departments to submit termination orders,
including those in pay level 3 and above.
The federation also raised concerns regarding Public Sector
Undertakings (PSUs), alleging that some were appointing individuals up to the
level of assistant manager. In this regard, the NSF had written to the
government to initiate action on these appointments.
It expressed concern that some PSUs were operating under
memorandums, bylaws, and service rules that permitted direct appointments at
pay levels ranging from INR 10,000 to INR 30,000. The NSF reiterated its demand
for the termination of such appointees.
The federation stated that it would continue to monitor
irregularities in departments, particularly those attempting to appoint
individuals at pay level 3 and above, either on a contractual or regular basis.
