RMSA 2016 teachers counter state’s claims; accuse government of ignoring Centre’s directive

DIMAPUR — The Nagaland RMSA Teachers’ Association 2016 batch has accused the state government of disregarding the Centre’s directive to appoint RMSA teachers on a regular basis, at par with state cadre teachers and with full scale pay.

In a counter statement to the department of School Education’s latest clarification, the association stated that the department’s listing of a number of points regarding the service conditions of RMSA 2016 teachers were all true.

“But truth alone does not make an action right or just. If a child steals and admits it truthfully, the act of stealing does not become acceptable. In the same way, the state’s actions, though admitted truthfully and openly, remain unjust and unlawful, nor does the act of admission justify the act of stealing,” the statement read.

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According to the teachers, the Project Approval Board (PAB) had in 2013 specifically instructed Nagaland to amend its misleading advertisement, clarifying that teachers’ salaries were the state government’s responsibility—irrespective of central funding.

They maintained that affidavits signed by teachers in 2016 were under duress and later nullified by the Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court in 2018.

The association pointed out that teachers recruited under the same RMSA 2016 advertisement were divided into two categories—those appointed through the Directorate of School Education, who now enjoy PIMS registration and employee codes, and those appointed through the Nagaland Education Mission Society, who remain without such benefits.

This, they stated, amounted to artificial discrimination.

Citing precedents, the teachers noted that SSA 2010 and 2013 batches, as well as RMSA 2013 recruits, were granted scale pay, while even the SSA 2015 batch—advertised as contract and fixed pay—received full pay with Cabinet approval.

The association appealed to the state government to honour the Supreme Court’s May 20 verdict, withdraw its Review Petition, and initiate “good-faith” dialogue to resolve the issue.