Nagaland: RMSA 2016 teachers launch indefinite protest in Kohima

KOHIMA — The Nagaland RMSA Teachers’ Association–2016 began an indefinite protest on Monday outside the Directorate of School Education in Kohima, demanding the implementation of service benefits as upheld by the High Court and later affirmed by the Supreme Court.

The 367 teachers recruited under RMSA in 2016 have been in a long legal battle with the state government over its refusal to implement scale pay.

The matter reached the Supreme Court and on May 20, 2025, the apex court dismissed the state respondents’ special leave petition challenging a High Court’s ruling in favour of the teachers. The apex court stated it was “not inclined to interfere” with the High Court’s order, and accordingly disposed of the case while vacating the interim order.

Also read: Supreme Court of India upholds high court ruling granting equal pay to RMSA teachers in Nagaland

Although the state has reportedly filed a review petition, the protestors pointed out that no stay order has been granted.

On Monday, the teachers—joined by supporters, family members and spouses—gathered outside the directorate demanding what they said was “rightfully” theirs.

Renbemo L Patton, spokesperson of Nagaland RMSA Teachers’ Association–2016, told reporters that the government “clearly did not follow” the guidelines of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, which required the teachers to be appointed on a regular basis and at par with the state cadre.

Read more: RMSA teachers’ strike disrupts classes in 133 Nagaland schools, enters third day

He claimed that clearance had been obtained from the Personnel and Administrative Reforms and Finance departments, along with approval from the Cabinet secretariat, and said it was time for the government to act.

According to ROP 2017, the teachers are entitled to a starting pay of INR 9300 to INR 34,800 with a grade pay of INR 4200. At present, they are on a fixed pay of INR 31,315 per month.

Patton said that the association had already held two “unfruitful” meetings with the department as “no proposal” had been put forward. “Until and unless we receive a positive response from the government, we will go to any extent,” he warned, adding that the protest would escalate into a hunger strike if the government failed to respond.

The RMSA 2016 batch is spread across 133 government high schools.

“As teachers, we sincerely care about our students. We have never intended to be sitting here at this juncture. We are eager to be in our schools, but if justice and rights are being denied, we have no other choice but to ask the department for what we are entitled to,” Patton added.

One of the protestors, Viboli A Zhimo from Zunheboto district, attended with her eight-month-old baby.

“From here, I want my baby to learn why we have come: to fight for our rights and to make the world know what is right and what is wrong. We are fighting not only for ourselves and the present generation but also for the future, teaching them how to fight for their rights,” she told Eastern Mirror.

Another protestor, Vizayienuo of GHS Mezoma, stressed that the teachers had left behind their classrooms, students, and work only to demand justice and their due rights.

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“From 2016 till date we have been serving with sincerity. Year after year, we have fulfilled our duty in teaching students and bringing change in society. But RMSA 2016 is a sad story. Even though we give our best, we feel discriminated against—salary-wise, no entitlements, no increment, nothing except our fixed salary. It’s going to be a decade. Judgments were in our favour but the government is turning a deaf ear, which is heartbreaking,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) extended support to the teachers and joined the protest.

CTAN convenor Meshenlo Kath appealed to the government to give what “rightfully” belongs to the teachers. He added that the government, not the protestors, was responsible for the students’ loss of classes.

This is the third week of the agitation. The teachers began with a pen-down strike on August 25. With “no positive response” from the government, they escalated to a total boycott of classes in the second phase, before launching the indefinite protest.