Dimapur, February 23 (MExN): The Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, on Thursday has issued a notice in a writ petition filed by 1161 Hindi teachers, appointed on regular basis serving in government schools across Nagaland. It alleged “prolonged irregular payment of salaries and failure on the part of the State to treat the petitioners equally as other employees employed under the State of Nagaland.”
An update received here stated that the matter was taken up by Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia on February 20, 2026, and after hearing advocates Rabindra Kumar Mitra, Sourjya Das and M Solo, appearing for the 1161 petitioners, for about eighteen long minutes, the Court issued notice to the State of Nagaland and the Centre (Union of India) in the case.
LT Sangtam, Additional Advocate General, Nagaland, representing the State respondents, accepted notice on behalf of the State of Nagaland.
The petitioners, who are 1161 Hindi teachers, led by Sherhinlo Keppen Convenor and Ketoulhoulie Kuotsil Secretary, all appointed on regular basis serving in government schools across Nagaland, were appointed in 2012 under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for promotion of Hindi in Nagaland.
It stated that the Central Government had sanctioned and funded the creation of posts for Hindi teachers with 100% financial assistance until the end of the plan period in the year 2017, after which the State Government was required to assume full responsibility for their salaries and maintenance, as per a memorandum issued by the Government of India.
Pursuant to Cabinet approval in December 2011, the State created 1379 posts of Hindi teachers and issued a public advertisement on January 10, 2012. Following due selection process, which included written tests and viva voce, appointments were made in government schools across the State of Nagaland, on regular basis.
The petitioners contend that despite continued discharge of duties, these teachers are not treated equally as other employees under the State of Nagaland. “Their salaries are been paid irregularly, often delayed by several months.”
The teachers asserted that the State has treated them as in-service teachers for all operational purposes, and have also declared them as regular appointees, while denying them the equal treatment, status and financial security of regular State employees. They claimed, “Repeated representations to the authorities allegedly yielded no effective response, prompting the present writ petition.”
The teachers said that the High Court's issuance of notice “marks the commencement of judicial scrutiny into the grievances raised by the Hindi teachers, after prolonged efforts on the part of the petitioners to attract the concern of the Directorate of School Education, Government of Nagaland.”
The matter is expected to be taken up for further consideration after four weeks.
