Mokokchung, 10th February, 2026 (www.nokinketer.in): The All Nagaland Ad Hoc Teachers Group of 2015 (ANATG-2015) is a group of 1166 persons appointed on contract/ad hoc basis against various categories of posts under the School Education Department between the late 1990s and 2012.

To regularize their service, after verification of their documents, a suitability test was conducted by the government in May 2017 in pursuance of the then O.M. No. AR-5/ASSO/98 dated 04.08.2008 & O.M. dated 11.08.2016, which were in force and which stipulated that on completion of (3) three years of continuous service on contract/ad hoc basis against sanctioned posts, on clearing the suitability test and on approval of the Cabinet, ad hoc/contract service can be regularized.

The case of all the 1166 Adhoc/ Contract candidates/Teachers who cleared the suitability test were recommended for regularization of service.  And Cabinet Memo was submitted to the cabinet on 26.10.2017.

However, in view of the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench’s order dated 25.07.2017 in W.P. (C) No. 145 (K) 2017 (ACAUT Vs State of Nagaland), which restrained the State Government from regularizing any contract appointment in terms of P&AR’s O.M., the cabinet deferred the case for regularization of their service. Further, by order dated 28.07.2017, the High Court suspended operation of P&AR’s O.M. No.AR-5/ASSO/98 dated 11.08.2016 & O.M. No.AR-5/ASSO/98 dated 4.8.2008. And by its order dated 03.08.2018, the Court directedthe State Respondents not to regularize any person in terms of P & AR’s cited OMs.

The School Education Department resubmitted a Cabinet Memo seeking direction of the Cabinet on the issue of 1166 ad hoc/contract teachers. The cabinet, in its decision on 29.08.2018, decided that till the court matter is fully resolved, the ad hoc teachers’ service cannot be regularized but the fixed salary of the ad hoc teachers will be doubled. Subsequently, as decided by the Cabinet in its meeting on 3.10.2018, scale pay on the basis of the 6th ROP of 2010 was granted to them.

ANATG submitted a representation in September 2021. Matter was referred to P&AR. And P&AR conveyed that as a one-time measure, irregularly appointed employees who had completed 10 years of continuous service as of 10.04.2006 can be regularized as per Para. 44 of the Supreme Court of India’s judgement and order dated 10.04.2006 passed in State of Karnataka Vs Uma Devi. Hence, the department was advised to identify such employees.

On non-fulfilment of their demand, the ANATG resorted to agitation, demanding regularisation of their service starting on 26.9.2022 till 7.10.2022. In this backdrop the government constituted a High Powered Committee    headed   by Principal Secretary to CM to resolve the issue, and the agitation was called off on 7th October 2022. The Terms of Reference included submission of a report by June 2023 and completion of the process of their regularisation by December 2023.

The HPC submitted its report to the government in June 2023.  On 9th February 2024, the Cabinet decided that the policy for regularization of contract/ad hoc be adopted.  And in pursuance of the decision of the cabinet and subsequent resolution adopted by the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly on 1-3-2024, the P&AR Department introduced a one-time policy for regularization of contract/ad hoc employees, vide OM.No.AR/GEN-6/2/2023(B)/328 dated 16-3-2024, who were appointed against sanctioned posts prior to 6-6-2016. Following the issuance of OM dated 16-3-2024, a Screening Committee on Regularization was constituted vide Notification.No.AR/GEN-6/2/2023 dated 6-6-2024.

In accordance with the stipulations of the P&AR, the Department of School Education forwarded the list and details of 2487 ad hoc/contract employees along with documents to the Screening Committee.  Discussions have also been held with the committee regarding missing documents and other possible solutions.

Meanwhile, the All Nagaland Ad Hoc Teachers Group of 2015 had submitted an ultimatum in December 2025 for going on agitation if their services were not regularised by 30th January 2026. This ultimatum was shared with the Screening Committee of the P & AR too. Discussions were also held with the Chairman, Screening Committee for Regularisation of  Group A and B, and C and D contract and ad hoc employees on the need to expeditiously complete the exercise. 

Subsequently, the School Education Department invited the ANATG-215 Core Members of ANATG for discussion on 3.2.2026.  In the meeting, the commissioner & Secretary, SE & SCERT, apprised the members of the follow-up action taken by the government and with the request to call off the proposed agitation. 

On 4th February 2026, after discussion with the general members, the Ad Hoc Teachers Group – ANATG – submitted 7 (seven) points of demand.

i. Immediate regularisation of service.

ii. ANATG-2015 Batch members should be segregated and treated separately.

iii. Arrears shall be reimbursed from the date of grant of scale, i.e., 3rd October, 2018.

iv. Seniority should be counted from the date of appointment.

v. The regularisation of the ANATG-2015 Batch teacher members shall be processed together.

vi. Posthumous regularisation of deceased members will be assured.

vii. ANATG-2015 Batch Teacher members should be exempted from appearing for another suitability test.

On 5th February 2026, the Core Committee members of ANATG, along with departmental officials, met the chairman of the screening committee. While acknowledging the demands of the ANATG-2015, the chairman informed that screening of the documents of the Department of School Education was in progress and explained the need for fulfilment of various conditions/procedures.

On 6th February 2026, to discuss the issue, the Chief Secretary, Nagaland – (CS in-charge) invited the Core Committee members of ANATG 2015, Chairman, Screening Committee, P & AR, School Education Department and Home Department. The ANATG-2015 members shared their grievances simultaneously; the departmental officials highlighted the status of the ongoing exercise on regularisation of service of the ad hoc/contract employees under the Department of School Education. The Chief Secretary explained the system of working of the government and the procedures followed and informed that the government is looking at all aspects and angles to address their issues and requested them to call off/suspend their agitation.

On 9th of February 2026, Principal Director, School Education, received a letter from the Core Committee of ANATG-2015  informing   to  go  for  Hunger Strike if they do not receive any satisfactory response latest by the evening of 9th February 2026. In response, the Directorate of School Education requested they put on hold any further recourse/hunger strike for better consultation, assuring them of taking up their issues at the earliest.

Considering School Education  being a department with the second largest manpower strength, all the concerned stakeholder organisations of the government are working in tandem to resolve the issues, considering the matter in its entirety. 

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