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

DIMAPUR — The state School Education department has issued a clarification regarding the pay and service conditions of RMSA graduate teachers of 2016 batch.

According to a DIPR update, the department stated that the teachers were engaged on a contractual basis in 2016 under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the erstwhile Union Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Recruitment was conducted through an open advertisement and written examination by the Nagaland Education Mission Society (NEMS).

“On selection, fully understanding the nature of engagement, the teachers accepted the terms and conditions supported by affidavit acknowledging that their tenure was co terminus with the scheme and the salary was subject to annual fund release of the Ministry, GOI.

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“Accordingly, they were engaged by the Nagaland Education Mission Society, the implementing agency. The engagements so made were against posts created for the CSS Scheme and not against substantive posts under the state cadre of the department of School Education. On the acceptance of the service conditions, the teachers were paid a fixed salary of INR 31,315,” it stated.

The department further stated that in 2018, following the integration of RMSA, SSA, and Teacher Education into Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, the government of India reduced salary support for graduate teachers to INR 25,000 per month, resulting in a corresponding salary reduction for the RMSA 2016 teachers.

The affected teachers approached the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, challenging the reduction.

“On 20th May 2020, the Hon'ble High Court quashed the OM on reduction of pay but did not agree to the grant of scale pay. Therefore, in compliance to the court's order, the Nagaland Education Mission Society continued to pay the RMSA teachers INR 31,315 per month till date, with partial funding from Ministry of Education, GOl and the shortfall met by the state government.

“The RMSA teachers filed another case WA(C) NO. (K) 2020 in 2022 seeking grant of pay band INR 9300-34800 with GP INR 4200 per month. The Hon'ble Court in its order dated 16.3.2022 directing the respondents to grant scale pay,” it added.

The department maintained that since 2022–23, the funding pattern from the Centre has been revised, leading to a reduction in absolute salary support from INR 25,000 to INR 18,750 per month, with the funding ratio now 60:40 between Centre and state.

In light of these developments, the state government filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court against the High Court verdict. On May 20, 2025, the Supreme Court upheld the Gauhati High Court’s order. Subsequently, a Review Petition was filed on August 14, 2025.

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“To resolve the impasse, a meeting was held on 2nd & 3rd September 2025 with the aggrieved teachers in the presence of Advisor, School Education & SCERT, requesting them to resume classes since the state government has preferred to file a Review Petition.

“The department also specified that on 11th September 2025, a joint meeting was convened by Commissioner & Secretary, School Education, with representatives of ANSTA, RMSA 2016 batch and officers of School Education department. In the meeting, the aggrieved teachers were apprised of the status and assured that once the Hon'ble Supreme Court passes its order in the review petition, the government shall honour the court's verdict and requested them to resume their duties,” it added.