JCC urges Nagaland government to uphold meritocracy in IAS induction process

DIMAPUR — The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), a conglomeration of service associations, has reiterated its opposition to the state government’s alleged move to induct a “backdoor appointee” into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

The JCC, comprising the Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees Association (CANSSEA), Nagaland Secretariat Service Association (NSSA), Nagaland Finance and Accounts Service Association (NF&ASA), Nagaland In-Service Doctors’ Association (NIDA) and FONSESA, reminded that its members have been wearing black badges since September 24 and observing a pen-down strike since October 14 in protest.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the committee clarified that its agitation is “neither against any individual nor against the government,” but against “wrong policies that undermine the very concept of merit-based governance.”

Also read: JCC hits back at Nagaland government over IAS induction ‘rhetoric’

Background

According to the JCC, the controversy dates back to 2018 when the Nagaland Civil Service Association (NCSA) recommended that only those non-Nagaland Civil Service (non-NCS) officers recruited through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) be eligible for IAS induction under Rules 4(1)(c) and 8(2) of the IAS (Recruitment) Rules, 1954.

Acting on the recommendation, the government issued a vacancy circular on July 6, 2020, approved by the chief minister, specifying that “only officers recruited through the NPSC may apply.”

The JCC stated that this clause strengthened the selection process and aligned with Supreme Court rulings empowering the executive to clarify rules where ambiguity exists.

A similar circular was issued again on March 10, 2025, inviting applications from eligible officers. Out of 11 applicants, one withdrew, and five of the remaining 10 candidates—all with outstanding Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs)—were shortlisted by the Screening Committee on September 25, 2025.

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RTI revelations

However, a later vacancy circular dated April 24, 2025, allegedly opened the door for a non-NPSC appointee, citing “procedural lapses.”

Citing information obtained through an RTI application, this amendment enabled the inclusion of a contract-based officer, Dr. Anungla Imdong Phom, in the panel list sent to the UPSC.

The JCC alleged that the government’s decision to withdraw the March 10 circular and replace it with a new one “betrayed the spirit of fair competition” and was intended to “favour a particular candidate.”

The panel list sent to the UPSC included: Vilone Sakhrie, through NPSC; Neidilhou Keditsu, through NPSC; Chubasangla Longkumer, through NPSC; Dr. Anungla Imdong Phom, non-NPSC (contract basis against study leave vacancy); and Theose Thongtsar, through NPSC.

Consequently, the JCC appealed to the state government and the Cabinet sub-committee to “rectify the procedural lapses” and restore the March 10, 2025, vacancy circular in toto.

It demanded the cancellation of the current panel list prepared on the basis of the April 24 circular, and the reinstatement of the earlier circular that adhered to constitutional and procedural propriety.

The committee described its ongoing protest as “a moral and legal stand to protect the fragile principle of meritocracy in a system where political favouritism is rampant.”

“This is a conscience call,” the JCC said, urging citizens to support its movement “for the sake of good governance and the future of Nagaland.”