Nagaland: JCC clarifies stance on IAS induction under non-SCS quota

DIMAPUR — The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of CANSSEA, FONSESA, NSSA, NIDA, and NF&ASA has clarified that it is not opposed to the induction of officers into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) under the Non-State Civil Service (Non-SCS) category but objects to the inclusion of “backdoor appointees” in the process.

In a clarification issued on Tuesday, the JCC stated that its concern was with the eligibility of officers proposed for IAS induction from among other state services, excluding the Nagaland Civil Service (NCS), which has a separate quota for promotion to the IAS.

The committee said it “strongly opposes any attempt to induct officers who entered service through backdoor, illegal, or irregular appointments” without undergoing open competitive recruitment. Such actions, it maintained, violate the principles of meritocracy and equality of opportunity, while eroding public trust and demoralising officers who entered service through legitimate means.

Stating that the IAS represents the highest level of administrative recognition, the JCC asserted that the induction process must remain transparent, fair, and constitutionally compliant. It cautioned that any move to regularise or promote officers appointed through irregular means would “set a dangerous precedent,” weaken institutions like the NPSC and NSSB, and dilute the integrity of the state’s administrative system.

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Reaffirming its commitment to uphold merit and transparency, the JCC urged the state government to ensure that only officers recruited through open and constitutional procedures are considered under the non-SCS quota.

The committee also drew attention to the IAS (Recruitment) Rules 1954, the IAS (Appointment by Selection) Regulations 1997, and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Office Memorandum dated October 7, 2020. Citing paragraph 3(ii) of the memorandum, the JCC said that appointments not made against sanctioned posts or lacking prescribed qualifications are considered illegal, while those made without open competition, with prescribed qualifications and working against sanctioned posts, are deemed irregular — and therefore ineligible for IAS induction.

The JCC further appealed to the state Cabinet to scrutinise the eligibility of all candidates proposed under the non-SCS quota and called upon all right-thinking citizens, intellectuals, student bodies, and civil society organisations to support efforts to uphold meritocracy, justice, and the rule of law in public service.