DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has supported the stand of Nagaland Medical Students’ Association (NMSA) in opposing the notification issued by the department of Health and Family Welfare inviting only 98 doctors for ‘special recruitment drive’ for the posts of Class-1 Gazetted medical officers.
While opposing the notification of the department of Health and Family Welfare dated August 20, NVCO stated that the decision to conduct departmental examination was outside the purview of the department and illegal.
The NVCO has termed as a clear case of favouritism, nepotism and corruption and questioned the department for repeating such mistake. It demanded that equal opportunity should be given to all eligible candidates by conducting NPSC exam.
A NVCO press release issued by its president, Kezhokhoto Savi, stated that Article 16 of the Constitution of India guaranteed equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the state.
“Every department under the Government of Nagaland must requisition the vacant post to Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) including the post of medical officer and the posts which were occupied through backdoor appointment,” Savi said.
He pointed out that the fight against backdoor appointment was to mete out justice by ensuring “Equality of appointment in matters of public employment” enshrined as a fundamental right in Article 16 of Indian Constitution to the many educated, meritorious, qualified, unemployed youth so as to bring about a positive change in public administration and achieve the goals/ ideals laid down in the Constitution.
He added that several high courts including the Madras High Court had asked the state government to stop regularising back door appointment in government jobs by arguing that regularising backdoor entry in public services violates the fundamental rights of those inspiring for public employment especially rural and semi-urban citizens.
In this regard, NVCO urged the state government to immediately stop back door appointment in public services in order to ensure that equal opportunity is provided to all eligible candidates through open competitive process.
It further stated that the case of the department of Health and Family Welfare to conduct a departmental exam for the post of medical officer would amount to backdoor appointment and not within the purview of department.