The Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees’ Association (CANSSEA), along with various other associations, is set to initiate a three-day ‘Pen Down Strike’ starting October 14 across all government offices in Nagaland. This action, organized by the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of CANSSEA, the Federation of Nagaland State Engineering Service Association (FONSESA), Nagaland Finance & Accounts Services Association (NF&ASA), Nagaland In-Service Doctors Association (NIDA), and Nagaland Secretariat Service Association (NSSA), is a protest against alleged irregularities in the induction of officers into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in the state.
During a press conference, CANSSEA President Zubemo Lotha Tsanglao expressed the association’s frustration over the state government’s failure to engage in discussions regarding these concerns. He emphasized that all state government employees will participate in the strike by putting down their pens, which will disrupt normal office operations, although essential services such as healthcare, sanitation, and electricity maintenance will continue.
To avoid impacting academic activities, the JCC announced that examinations in schools and colleges would be exempt from the strike’s purview. The committee has called this strike to “awaken” the conscience of the government and the public, highlighting their demand for merit in appointments.
The JCC criticized the government’s “silence and indifferent attitude” in addressing grievances that undermine meritocracy. They have insisted upon the withdrawal of candidates shortlisted from outside the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) cycle, as well as the restoration of a Vacancy Circular issued on March 10, 2025, to ensure merit-based selection for IAS appointments.
The committee’s recent statements have reiterated the importance of following the IAS (Recruitment) Rules established in 1954, which dictate that IAS inductions should derive from both State Civil Service officers and those in Non-State Civil Service (Non-SCS) positions. The rules also specify that a maximum of 33.33% of IAS positions can be filled through promotion from these services, and that up to 15% of that quota is reserved for Non-SCS officers, who face a stricter selection process.
Concerns grew when the state government withdrew a Vacancy Circular on March 25, 2025, shortly after it was issued, raising suspicions of procedural manipulation. The situation escalated when the State Cabinet, amid increasing scrutiny, decided to re-advertise the position as per central guidelines.
The committee has voiced concerns that the same Vacancy Circular had earlier been considered valid for the induction of Non-SCS officers, suggesting that the abrupt withdrawal demonstrates a troubling reality of political maneuvering. They maintain that an officer seeking IAS induction must display “outstanding merit and ability” as defined by the DOPT Guidelines. They argue that backdoor appointments undermine merit and integrity within the IAS, as well as the recruitment principles upheld by institutions like the NPSC.
The government response has been criticized by the JCC, asserting that leveraging ambiguous guidelines to justify non-merit-based selections reflects a serious breach of fairness and protocol. They have called for adherence to meritocracy in IAS induction, transparency in the selection process, and an immediate withdrawal of any biased panel lists.
The demand for an equitable recruitment process remains at the forefront, as underscored by various slogans championing merit and condemning unjust practices. The collective voice of the associations emphasizes that IAS induction should be free from political favoritism, standing firm against backdoor entries that compromise the integrity of public service.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/state-govt-employees-to-enforce-pen-down-strike-across-nagaland-from-today
Category: Nagaland
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Publish Date: 2025-10-13 23:40:00
