Five prominent civil service associations in Nagaland have strongly opposed the state government’s withdrawal of a key IAS recruitment circular, alleging that the move was aimed at favouring a candidate who did not meet the prescribed eligibility criteria. The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), representing CANSSEA, FONSESA, NIDA, NSSA, and NE&ASA, issued a statement on October 17 challenging the government spokesperson’s description of the controversy as a mere “bureaucratic procedural lapse.” The dispute revolves around a vacancy circular issued on March 10, 2025, which mandated that candidates for IAS induction must have entered service through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC). The subsequent withdrawal of this circular prompted claims that the action was intended to accommodate an irregularly appointed candidate.
According to the JCC, a similar circular was issued on July 6, 2020, with chief ministerial approval, leading to the selection of a candidate through proper NPSC channels. “If the bureaucracy fell short of procedural duties, when it concerns the greater good of the State and the people, it is expected of the concerned authorities to address the lapse rather than remove the circular,” the committee’s statement read. The associations also criticised what they described as a “mis-statement” by the government regarding officers inducted from non-State Civil Service quotas. They argued that the list presented was “biased and incomplete,” wrongly categorising NPSC-qualified officers as non-NPSC appointees.
Highlighting constitutional concerns, the JCC argued that the withdrawal violated Article 16, which guarantees equal opportunity in public employment. They questioned why no issues were raised regarding the 2020 circular, and why the 2025 version was retracted only after applications had been submitted.“This exposes favouritism, nepotism, and premeditated preference of a particular candidate despite the availability of other meritorious applicants,” the statement added. Multiple representations submitted to the government since March 2025 reportedly went unanswered, forcing the associations to resort to protests.
