NNQF and CTAN seek division bench review of Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench order on assistant professor appointments without advertisement.
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KOHIMA — The Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF) and the Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) have re-appealed for a division bench to review a single-bench order passed in November in connection with the appointment of assistant professors without advertisement.
A single bench of the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, in its judgement dated November 12, 2025, dismissed the writ petition filed by members of NNQF on the grounds of maintainability and locus standi.
Explaining the implications of the judgement, Dr. Videkhono, a core member of NNQF, said the court observed that the petitioners lacked locus standi as they were not eligible or NET-qualified at the time the appointments were made, and therefore could not challenge the alleged backdoor appointments.
“If this order is allowed to stand, not only NNQF members or CESE aspirants, but even educated unemployed youth in the future may be unable to challenge any backdoor appointment. We will lose locus standi,” she said while addressing a press conference at the Red Cross Building, Kohima, along with Meshenlo Kath, convenor of CTAN, and other members.
She added that the order puts the future of aspirants at stake, prompting them to approach the court again and seek review by a division bench.
Expressing faith in the judiciary, the organisations have re-appealed for reconsideration of the judgement.
Also read: CTAN, NNQF demand subject-wise breakup of 34 assistant professor posts, clarity on 129 new posts
Kath also expressed concern over the verdict, stating that the government could use it as a precedent to undermine aspirants’ rights. “If people strictly go by this order, educated youth may not be able to fight legal battles in the future,” he said, while appealing for continued public support until the case reaches its conclusion.
‘Advertise 129 posts at the earliest’
On the issue of the 129 newly created posts and the 147 posts whose regularisation attempt was revoked, Dr. Videkhono said that both carried the same P&AR number and financial clearance.
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“We were shocked to see this. How can both 129 and 147 posts share the same P&AR number and financial clearance? It appears mischievous,” she said.
She informed that an RTI was filed to ascertain whether the 129 posts were created to accommodate the revoked 147 posts. While the reply denied this, it confirmed that both shared the same P&AR number and financial clearance due to the revocation.
Citing the chronology, she said that P&AR clearance was granted in 2022, financial clearance in 2023, and the attempted regularisation of 147 posts occurred in 2024, which now stands revoked. “The sequence is confusing and disappointing for aspirants,” she added.
Drawing a comparison, she pointed out that Political Science has only two vacancies in the newly created 129 posts, compared to 13 posts under the revoked 147. Similarly, Sociology has eight posts in the new list, compared to 15 earlier.
“The public cannot be fooled,” she said, urging aspirants to remain vigilant. She also called for the early advertisement of the 129 posts, which is yet to be issued.
Kath noted that following the revocation of the 147 posts, 34 posts were requisitioned to the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) and 129 new posts were created, making a total of 163 posts.
“We will ensure that all 163 posts reach the NPSC,” he said, urging the department to forward them at the earliest.
He further urged the NPSC to adhere to its academic calendar, noting that the Common Educational Services Examination advertisement was overdue.