They’ve asked the CM for a one-time, legal recruitment drive to become Assistant Professors. Why? Because they’ve been the backbone of college education… and their contracts ended abruptly on August 31, 2026. No warning. No plan. Just silence. They’re not demanding special treatment; just fairness. All 178 hold UGC-recognized qualifications. Some have PhDs, NET certificates, and years of classroom experience. They proposed a transparent committee with experts to evaluate based on merit, vacancies, and subject needs. Even referenced a 2022 precedent where 16 PGTs were absorbed into professor roles. The timing? Critical. With NEP 2020’s 4-year undergrad program rolling out, teaching loads have jumped. Research, projects, interdisciplinary courses; all need faculty. But Tripura’s colleges now have 507 regular profs… and 732 guest lecturers. The system’s stretched thin. This isn’t just about jobs. It’s about whether India’s higher education can survive without treating its teachers like temporary help. The Supreme Court’s recent order (Sept 8, 2026) says recruitment must follow rules. These teachers are asking: what if the rules already let us in; if only someone would look? The ball is now in Tripura’s court. Will they treat this as a personnel issue… or a crisis in waiting?