Issued by the Commissioner of Higher and Technical Education Department, an office memorandum was opposed by the All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) on November 20, which reads that appointment of the candidates to the post of principal will be done based on seniority.

The principal in charge would serve a three-year tenure while heads of departments (HODs) would serve two-year terms according to the memorandum.

In a press release issued on Wednesday The ATSUM stated, “The All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur opposes (the) ambiguous office memorandum issued by the Commissioner of Higher and Technical Education Department on November 20, purportedly at the behest of some disgruntled college teachers who are sulking for being snubbed from the posts of principals and heads of departments in various faculties”.

“Out of the seven colleges in the hills district, three colleges namely Tamenglong College, Hill College Tadubi and Lamka College, Churachandpur have an Arts stream while Kamjong, Tengnoupal, Pherzawl and Noney districts are functioning without a single college,” it added.

ATSUM information and publicity secretary, Khaiminlen Doungel, said, “ATSUM, in tandem with its sister organisation, had been pointing out to the Government of Manipur and the concerned departments to rectify this gross injustice for the sake of fair growth and development but only to be shown a contemptuous rebuff”.

The press release also admitted that though The principle of seniority was admitted by the press release.

“Whatever the case is, we will not allow the office memorandum issued by the Department of Higher Education to have a spiral effect on the seven colleges of the hill districts and disturb the peace and tranquility that is being witnessed now,” it added.