Kohima: The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) on Thursday escalated its ongoing protest against the Nagaland government by launching a full-fledged ‘tools down’ strike, in addition to the continuing pen-down agitation.
The JCC, comprising the Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees Association (CANSSEA), Nagaland In-Service Doctors Association (NIDA), Nagaland Secretariat Service Association (NSSA), Nagaland Finance and Accounts Service Association (NF&ASA), and Federation of Nagaland State Engineering Service Association (FONSESA), accused the government of ignoring over 40 days of peaceful demonstrations.
Reaffirming that its core demand for the “restoration of merit” remains unchanged, the committee urged the government to reinstate the March 10 vacancy circular and remove the “non-NPSC/backdoor candidate” from the IAS induction panel list.
With the strike expanding in scope, the All Nagaland Government Drivers’ Association, Nagaland Civil Secretariat Drivers’ Association, All Nagaland Directorate & District Government Drivers’ Union, and Nagaland Civil Secretariat Grade-IV Staff Employees Association have also joined the tools-down protest.
The JCC has directed all members across departments to ensure that essential services—such as public transport, ambulances, educational institution vehicles, sanitation, power, and PHE—remain functional, and that the agitation stays peaceful and confined to workplaces.
Responding to the protest, the state government on October 30 defended its stance, stating that the ongoing IAS induction process follows long-established administrative conventions.
Government spokesperson and minister K.G. Kenye said the JCC’s demand that only Nagaland Civil Service (NCS) officers be considered for IAS induction was “a new development” inconsistent with past practice.
“This is the first time we are facing such opposition to having even one IAS vacancy open to other services,” Kenye said, adding that successive governments have always recommended at least one non-state civil services officer who has demonstrated “outstanding merit, efficiency, and service record.”
Appealing to the JCC to reconsider its stand and restore normalcy in the interest of the public, Kenye said the state government would await observations from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the UPSC before taking any further steps.
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“We have not violated any guidelines. If there are differing opinions, let the Centre decide,” he added, emphasizing that governance should not be disrupted by such disputes.
The ongoing agitation marks the fourth phase of the JCC’s movement since its launch on September 25, which began with the wearing of black badges, followed by a poster campaign and a pen-down strike.
