Kohima: The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), representing five major organisations of Nagaland government employees, on Friday announced a three-day pen-down strike from October 14 to protest the inclusion of an allegedly ineligible officer in the list of candidates selected for induction into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre.
In a statement, the JCC alleged that the Select List finalised on September 25 contained the name of an officer who did not enter service through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) route. It demanded the immediate removal of the officer’s name to uphold the principles of merit-based recruitment.
The committee asserted that the inclusion of a non-NPSC officer violates established service rules and undermines the merit-based system of public service recruitment. It also criticised the government for its “silence and indifferent attitude” toward what it described as a legitimate and serious concern of the employee community.
The JCC clarified that the Pen Down Strike, which would be its third phase of agitation following the ongoing wearing of black badge and poster campaign in offices, will be observed by all service associations affiliated with the Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees Association , one of its constituents of the Committee.
It also cautioned that directives issued by any non-governmental agencies not connected with the issue should be disregarded.
The JCC also acknowledged the All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association, an affiliate of CANSSEA, for its prompt compliance with the directive and validated the circular issued by ANSTA as being consistent with the purpose of the agitation.
To prevent any disruption to academic activities, the JCC clarified that examinations conducted by schools, colleges, and other educational institutions will be exempted from the scope of the pen-down strike.
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Besides CANSSEA, the other four organisations are the Nagaland Secretariat Service Association, Nagaland Finance and Accounts Service Association, Nagaland In-Service Doctors Association, and the Federation of Nagaland State Engineering Service Associations.
