RMSA 2016 batch teachers serve ultimatum to state government on pay scale implementation

KOHIMA — The Nagaland Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) 2016 batch teachers’ association has served an ultimatum to the state government to implement the pay scale as per the Guwahati High Court order by August 25. Failing this, the teachers have warned of launching democratic forms of agitation beginning August 26.

The decision was announced during a press conference at Commissioner’s Circuit House, Kohima, addressed by RMSA 2016 batch executive members.

They informed that 367 graduate teachers are currently serving under the 2016 RMSA batch across the state.

The members pointed out that on March 16, 2022, the Guwahati High Court had ruled in their favour regarding the implementation of the scale pay, and the Supreme Court later upheld the judgment on May 20, 2025. Despite the ruling, they lamented that even after nearly three months the state government has not taken any step to implement the order.

Also read: 2016 batch RMSA teachers issue 7-day ultimatum to Nagaland Education department

Recalling their appointment process, the members explained that they were recruited in 2016 after advertisements were issued in local dailies.

Though the salary was not specified in the advertisement, written examinations were held in June 2014, viva voce in August 2015, and results declared in November 2015. Appointment orders were issued on February 9, 2016.

It was only upon receiving their appointment letters that the teachers came to know they would be drawing a fixed salary of INR 31,315. According to them, the School Education department, Finance department, and the Cabinet had approved the creation of posts with a scale pay of INR 9,300–34,800 with a grade pay of INR 4,200.

In 2018, the state government further reduced their salaries to INR 25,000 through an office memorandum. Although the association initially adopted a diplomatic approach, their concerns were ignored, leading them to file a case in the Guwahati High Court. In 2020, the court restored their original salary.

Subsequently, the teachers filed a writ appeal demanding scale pay under the principle of “equal pay for equal work.” They argued that their counterparts from the RMSA 2010 and 2013 batches, as well as teachers appointed under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), had been granted scale pay and regularisation from the beginning.

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On March 16, 2022, the Guwahati High Court ruled in their favour. The state government, however, challenged the order in the Supreme Court by filing a special leave petition on July 11, 2022. After nearly three years of litigation, the apex court dismissed the petition, thereby upholding the High Court’s order.

The association said that despite the court’s directive that the petitioners should be granted the pay scale “forthwith,” the state government has failed to issue any statement or take action.

Salary pending since April

Apart from the long-pending demand for scale pay, the teachers said that their salaries have been withheld since April 2025. They expressed deep concern over the hardship faced by members serving in 133 government high schools across the state.

They further lamented that despite being appointed through a proper recruitment process, they have not received any service entitlements, unlike other batches. ‘After having been discriminated against for such a long period of time, the government should be kind enough now to invite us and give us the justice we deserve as teachers,’ one of the members said.

The association stated that they had submitted an ultimatum on August 13 to all heads of departments concerned, demanding implementation of the scale pay within seven working days. They alleged that repeated attempts to communicate with the department in the past three months were met with no positive response, forcing them to take this step.

Questioning the government’s claim of being “overburdened with employees,” the teachers claimed there has been no general recruitment of graduate teachers since the 2010 and 2013 batches of RMSA and SSA, except for science and mathematics. They demanded transparency in the recruitment process and the salary structure.

They appealed to the state government to respect the court orders, end the discrimination against the 2016 batch, and ensure fair treatment in line with other teachers recruited through similar channels.