A group of civil service associations in Nagaland has strongly challenged the state government’s defence over the induction of non-State Civil Service officers into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), saying the move raises serious constitutional and ethical concerns. The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), a platform representing five major government service organisations — CANSSEA, FONSESA, NIDA, NSSA and NF&ASA — issued a detailed statement on October 31 questioning the basis on which certain officers were considered for IAS elevation. According to the committee, the state’s justification does not stand up to legal scrutiny and undermines the principle of fair recruitment. At the core of the dispute is the inclusion of officers whom the JCC described as “irregularly appointed”, alleging that these individuals entered government service without going through proper and constitutionally mandated recruitment procedures. The committee argued that allowing such officers to rise to the IAS cadre would compromise both merit and integrity in public administration.
The state government spokesperson had earlier defended the selections, saying they were done “within the constitutional framework” and that those regularised in service had shown seniority, experience and honesty deserving of consideration. The government further stated that deserving officers should not be denied advancement simply because they did not enter service through competitive exams. Rejecting this explanation, the JCC questioned how appointments made in violation of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution could later be considered valid for IAS induction. “Induction into the IAS is not akin to attaining sainthood where one’s past irregularities are washed away. The rule of law applies to all,” the committee asserted. The JCC also cited the Supreme Court’s landmark 2006 judgment in the Uma Devi case, which held that regularisation cannot cure the initial illegality of an appointment made without due process. According to the associations, the state government’s stance contradicts this established legal principle.
The Nagaland government had also pointed to a Supreme Court ruling involving Rajasthan, where a non-SCS officer was allowed induction to the IAS. The JCC countered that the circumstances were completely different, noting that the Rajasthan case involved reserved quota for non-SCS officers, whereas the current issue in Nagaland concerns the eligibility of officers whose entry into service itself is disputed. Calling the explanation misleading, the committee said the government must not attempt to “whitewash backdoor appointees and glorify them.” It added that fairness in recruitment is critical for public confidence in the administration and urged the state to ensure transparency and adherence to established procedures.
