Joint Coordination Committee Condemns Policy Violations and Calls for Ethical Governance in Civil Service Selection
In a growing wave of dissent, the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) — an umbrella body representing key government employees’ associations in Nagaland — has stepped up its protest against the induction of IAS officers through the Non-State Civil Service (Non-SCS) quota. The committee says its campaign is rooted in the demand for merit-based, transparent, and legally compliant recruitment practices within the state.
Who the JCC Represents
The JCC comprises five major employee bodies:
The Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees Association
The Federation of Nagaland State Engineers Service Association
The Nagaland In-Service Doctors’ Association
The Nagaland Secretariat Service Association
The Nagaland Forest Service Association
Together, they form a united front advocating for fairness and integrity in Nagaland’s administrative recruitment system.
Committee Clarifies Stand: “Our Protest Is for Justice, Not Against Individuals”
In a detailed public statement released on Wednesday, the JCC underscored that its agitation is not aimed at targeting any specific person or department but at defending the principles of meritocracy, transparency, and fairness in government appointments.
The committee asserted that the integrity of the state’s civil service must not be compromised by shortcuts or procedural violations. “Our concern is not personal — it is about protecting the credibility of the system and ensuring every candidate gets an equal chance based on merit,” the JCC declared.
Government Admits Procedural Lapses — JCC Demands Accountability
According to the JCC, the Nagaland government itself has acknowledged procedural irregularities in the screening process for IAS induction under the Non-SCS category. Despite this, the committee argues that these lapses constitute clear violations of the IAS (Appointment by Selection) Rules, 1954 and the IAS (Appointment by Selection) Regulations, 1997, which require merit-based evaluation and adherence to due process.
The committee also faulted the state for overlooking a DoPT Office Memorandum dated October 7, 2020, which reaffirmed that all recruitment must comply with the Supreme Court’s directives on transparent and constitutional selection procedures.
Safeguarding Merit and Equal Opportunity
Emphasizing the moral foundation of their protest, the JCC reiterated that the movement’s only purpose is to preserve fairness in recruitment and protect opportunities for young aspirants.
The committee warned that policies bypassing legal norms could have long-term consequences, undermining the credibility of the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) and the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB). “When laws designed to uphold merit are ignored, the very spirit of governance and justice is threatened,” the statement read.
Appeal for Public Understanding and Support
Recognizing that their demonstrations might disrupt routine functioning, the JCC appealed to citizens for patience and solidarity, stressing that their protest serves a larger public interest. “This is a collective fight for fairness — for a system that treats every citizen equally and upholds the rule of law,” the committee stated.
Concerns Over Governance and Future Integrity
The JCC cautioned that repeated procedural bypasses could erode trust in the recruitment process and damage the future of Nagaland’s administrative framework. The committee expressed anxiety that allowing such precedents would weaken the state’s commitment to honest governance and discourage deserving candidates from pursuing civil service careers.
Commitment to a Transparent Future
Reaffirming its resolve, the Joint Coordination Committee said it would continue its movement until the state reinstates full compliance with merit-based recruitment standards. It emphasized that defending fair recruitment is not just an employees’ issue but a shared social and governmental duty.
As the agitation persists, the JCC has urged the public to stand united in the belief that “a transparent, merit-driven recruitment system is the foundation of a just and progressive Nagaland.”
