The Media Cell of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) has issued a strong rebuttal to the State Government’s statement regarding the induction of non-State Civil Service (non-SCS) officers into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), terming the government’s defense as “rhetorics.”
Quoting political theorist Hannah Arendt, the JCC began its statement saying, “The real danger isn’t making people believe lies. It is making them give up on truth entirely.” The Committee remarked, “Unfortunate it is, yet the truth must be told, read and understood irrespective of the audience it is directed toward.”
The JCC said the issue concerning the “induction of non-SCS officers into the IAS has been highlighted to the point in the print media that by now any being who has evolved considerably would have understood.” It added, “Those who have not evolved may be excused.”
Responding to the government spokesperson’s claim that “the Government acted within the constitutional framework over IAS Induction,” the JCC countered, “How is it within the constitutional framework when the very entry into service of irregularly appointed officers had been in violation of constitutionally mandated process of recruitment namely in violation of Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India?”
It asserted that “Induction into the IAS is not akin to attaining sainthood where your past sins are forgiven. We are still on Earth where the rule of law prevails.”
On the spokesperson’s remark that “backdoor appointees were included in the IAS list and it is misleading. Regularized officers serving with integrity and seniority had earned their due consideration,” the JCC questioned, “What would you call an officer who has entered service without undergoing the constitutionally mandated process of recruitment? Is it not irregular and illegal and warrants the term ‘backdoor’?”
Citing the Supreme Court judgment in Uma Devi vs State of Karnataka (2006), the JCC stated that “regularization of irregularly appointed employees does not cure the defect of the initial appointment.” It further said, “The Government must not whitewash backdoor appointees and glorify them.”
Reacting to another government statement — “Not everyone can excel in competitive exams but if officer prove their capability through service and responsibility there should be room for their advancement as well,” — the JCC described it as ironic, stating, “It is an irony that the Government is pleading the case of such backdoor appointee for equal opportunity when it is such an employee who has violated Article 16 of the Constitution of India.”
On the claim that a “Supreme Court Judgement from Rajasthan upheld the inclusion of a Non-SCS officer and the situation in Nagaland is comparable,” the JCC clarified, “Supreme Court’s judgement with respect to Rajasthan is in no way comparable. In Rajasthan, the case was in respect of seats for Non-SCS officers for induction into the IAS to which the Rajasthan Administrative Service objected. In Nagaland, the present case is with respect to the inclusion of irregularly appointed officer in the panel list for IAS induction.”
The statement was issued by the Media Cell, Joint Coordination Committee (JCC).
