Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 4
According to 2016 batch of the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), litigation should not be used as an instrument of deferment by the government. “Litigation cannot be allowed to become an instrument of harassment or delay,” held Renbemo L Patton, Spokesperson of the Nagaland Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) Teachers’ Association - 2016 Batch.
The association started a cease work agitation from September 1, affecting 133 government-run high schools across the state. The aggrieved agitators comprise of 376 teachers appointed under the RMSA in 2016.
Since 2018, the association and the state government has been embroiled in a series of litigations over the 2016 batch’s demand for scale pay at par with the RMSA 2010 and 2013 batches in the principle of “Equal pay for equal work.”
The association took their argument to the Gauhati High Court, which ruled in their favour in March 2022. This was challenged by the state government, filing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court. In May 2025, the apex court dismissed the SLP, while upholding the Gauhati High Court’s March 2022 verdict.
As per the association, the Supreme Court’s decision affirmed the teachers claim to “equal pay for equal work.” Despite, the association said that the state government has not implemented the court’s verdict, compelling the aggrieved 2016 batch to launch a phased agitation starting with a ‘pen down’ strike in August.
It upped the ante, transforming the pen down strike into a cease work agitation beginning September 1. All the while, they held that the state government chose to file a petition seeking review of the SLP dismissal by the Supreme Court, allegedly as a ploy to further delay implementing their demands.
“How many times do they need to re-validate or to re-assess while the matter has been already examined and ruled upon by both the (Supreme) Court,” held Patton. He said that it was time the government admit its mistake of the past and resort to course correction by way of implementing the scale pay for the RMSA teachers of the 2016 batch. He added that government cannot hide behind the ‘fund constraint’ refrain.
The association’s President, Imlitemjen maintained that the agitation was not over trivial reasons. According to him, they have been compelled to take the step due to the government’s indifference towards what he described as their legitimate grievances, specifically regarding the implementation of pay scale.
He held that they have been forced out of the classroom and back into the courtroom as result of the government filing the review petition.
While asserting that the solution to the impasse lies with the government, he said that the association with continue the agitation in phases until the government implements the Supreme Court's judgment.
He further informed that the association will decide on the third phase of the agitation on September 5.
The association, meanwhile, informed that they will temporarily suspend their cease work agitation on September on account of the Teachers’ Day celebration.
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