The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) has said that it is dismayed and concerned by the recent removal of the Director of Higher Education, Nagaland, “without any justifiable reason”.

In a letter to the Minister of Higher Education, the ANCSU objected to the decision to appoint an NCS cadre officer to the post instead of a “qualified academic leader with a Ph.D degree, APIs based PBAS and other credentials aligned conditions laid down UGC norms” and stated that the move will “jeopardizes not only the integrity of the department but also the future of thousands of students across the state.”

The student body mentioned that the Director was been reassigned as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) which it says “appears to contravene the Nagaland Higher Education Service Rules of 2015, which clearly stipulate that the members of the service should be appointed in accordance with these rules.”

Urging the State Government to refrain from treating the position as a political appointment, the Union called for the “appointment of a candidate who meets the UGC’s stringent academic and professional criteria, ensuring that our educational institutions are led by individuals who are best equipped to guide this vital sector.”