Nagaland Employees Strike for Meritocracy in IAS Induction

The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) in Nagaland has initiated a three-day pen-down strike, paralyzing government functions to protest the inclusion of a non-NCS officer into the IAS cadre without open advertisement. Comprised of five major unions, the JCC demands adherence to established recruitment protocols.

The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), representing five major employee unions, commenced a three-day pen-down strike on Tuesday, severely disrupting Nagaland government offices across the state. The protest stems from opposition to the inclusion of a non-NCS officer into the IAS cadre without open recruitment.

The controversy ignited when the state recalled a vacancy circular dated March 10, intended for IAS induction, sparking allegations of favoring a non-state cadre officer. The JCC insists on adherence to the 2001 and 2016 Office Memorandums requiring open advertisement via the Nagaland Public Service Commission.

A JCC representative reported that despite ongoing protests, no dialogue has been initiated by the government, prompting this phase of symbolic protest. Offices displayed banners supporting merit-based IAS induction. Attempts to contact government officials remained unanswered, though a State Cabinet meeting is expected to address the issue.

(With inputs from agencies.)