Kohima: Nagaland’s government high schools were hit by a pen-down strike on Tuesday as teachers began an indefinite protest over long-delayed service benefits.
Academic activities came to a standstill in 133 government high schools across the state as the 2016 batch of the Nagaland RMSA Teachers Association (NRMSTA) began a phase-wise indefinite agitation.
The NRMSTA announced the strike after the Nagaland government failed to meet its August 13 ultimatum.
The protest was launched over long-standing demands concerning service benefits.
The association stated that the protest was driven by the government’s ongoing silence despite favourable court verdicts.
“Our members are attending their respective schools but are refraining from any pen and paper work,” said NRMSATA-2016 president Imlitemjen to a news agency.
The Gauhati High Court Division Bench had ruled in favour of the teachers on March 16, 2022, and the decision was later upheld by the Supreme Court on May 20, 2025.
The teachers are demanding the recognition of salary and service benefits from their year of appointment in 2016, the implementation of the ROP 2017 pay scale with annual increments aligning with SSA–RMSA 2010–13 teachers, and the enforcement of an Office Memorandum dated March 29, 2017.
Mission Director of Samagra Shiksha Nagaland, L. Jamithung Lotha, said that the state government filed a review petition in the Supreme Court on August 14.
“Since the matter is still in court, we appeal for patience and encourage waiting for the outcome,” he stated.
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It is noted that government schools across the state were conducting second-term examinations, and as a result, regular classes were not scheduled for Tuesday.
