Illegal appointment row: CTAN declares lockdown of Directorate of Soil and Water Conservation

Mokokchung, 11 March (MTNews): In response to the Directorate of Soil and Water Conservation’s alleged noncompliance with CTAN’s demand to terminate two illegal Junior Soil Conservation Officer (JSCO) appointees by 11 March 2024, the Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) has announced a lockdown of the Directorate.

CTAN, through a press statement released today stated, “Following comprehensive deliberations, the collective decision of the house is to engage in agitation until the termination order for the two unauthorized JSCO appointees is obtained.”

It may be noted that CTAN had previously warned of potential action, including the lockdown of the Directorate of Soil and Water Conservation, on 17 February, following allegations of illegal appointments to the position of JSCO in the department.

Avilie Nagi and Agape Yeputhomi were reportedly appointed on 3 June 2016 without the involvement of the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC), as claimed by CTAN.

CTAN has alleged that these appointments, made through a “backdoor” process, did not adhere to standard procedures. The association has been persistent in demanding the nullification of their regularization, first raising the issue in September and December of 2019, and again on 10 March 2022.

In response to CTAN’s ultimatum for termination, the Directorate of Soil and Water Conservation asserted, “There’s no question of termination since they no longer serve in the department.”

However, CTAN claimed they have learned that both individuals are still employed and undergoing a process of regularization, which they argue contradicts the terms of their contract.

Asserting that the appointees have no right to claim regularization, CTAN renewed its demand for the termination of Avilie Nagi and Agape Yeputhomi by 11 March 2024.