The Combined Technical Association Nagaland (CTAN) and the Nagaland NET(/Ph.D) Qualified Forum (NNQF) have submitted a petition to the Chief Minister’s Office on March 9 seeking a fair, transparent, and inclusive process of recruitment for Assistant Professors and Librarians under the Higher Education Department, Government of Nagaland.
According to a press release, the petition pertains to the ongoing contested case of regularisation of Assistant Professors and Librarians under the Department of Higher Education, Government of Nagaland. According to the groups, the issue “has not only invited skepticism and criticism regarding the legal, ethical, and rational basis of the government’s recruitment policy but also tarnished the image of the Government of Nagaland at large”.
Drawing attention to the government’s emphasis on the empowerment of the youth and reminding the government of its constitutional responsibility to uphold justice and equality in recruitment to public posts, the petition has raised the following salient points.
It has sought the urgent requisition of the 129 Assistant Professor and Librarian posts created during 2022-2023 to the Nagaland Public Service Commission. It reminded the government that delay in the requisitioning of these posts would erode public trust, cause unnecessary anxiety among qualified youth, and risk stagnation in academic appointments across government colleges.
It has requested the reconsideration of the marks weightage framework which currently places a disproportionate emphasis on academic records without accounting for systemic variations in marking across educational boards, universities, and periods. It proposed 20% percent for academic record with emphasis on research and publications, 10% percent for viva-voce, and 70% for the written component.
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It has demanded transparency in the evaluation process as there is no provision for disclosure of marks secured by candidates in any of the evaluation components: academic record, written exam, or interview.
It has insisted on clarity and consistency in the treatment of candidates holding postgraduate degrees in allied subjects. It drew attention to the UGC Regulations which allows candidates with qualifications in allied subjects in the recruitment of Assistant Professors.
The petition was signed by 505 signatories among which were research scholars, post graduate students, social workers, doctors, assistant professors and professors, professionals, engineers, civil service aspirants, entrepreneurs, and students pursuing bachelors. A copy of the petition details has also been submitted to the Chief Secretary’s office.
