The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) – comprising the Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees Association (CANSSEA), Federation of Nagaland State Services Employees Association (FONSESA), Nagaland Indian Defence Association (NIDA), Nagaland State Services Association (NSSA), and Nagaland Forest & Allied Services Association (NF&ASA) – has announced an extension of the ongoing pen-down strike in protest against alleged irregularities in the non-SCS IAS induction process.
The strike, which began on October 14, 2025, will now continue from October 17 until further instructions, according to a circular issued by the JCC Media Cell. The committee said the extension was decided after deliberating on the “facts and prevailing circumstances” surrounding the protest, which centers on claims of subversion of meritocracy, including alleged backdoor appointments, in the selection and induction of officers into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
The JCC clarified that all modalities of the pen-down strike issued earlier remain in force, but an important exemption has been granted at the request of the All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association (ANSTA). The teachers’ association had sought exemption for all educational institutions, including schools and colleges, citing the welfare of students and the need to maintain continuity in education.
In their appeal, ANSTA highlighted that the academic calendar is at a critical stage, with examinations approaching, and any disruption in classes or assessments could negatively affect students’ preparation, performance, and future opportunities. The association also emphasized that educational institutions, as service-oriented entities, require uninterrupted functioning to maintain discipline and quality of education.
Responding to this request, the JCC expressed its appreciation to ANSTA for their support of the cause of meritocracy while ensuring the academic welfare of students. The committee stated that teachers and educational institutions are henceforth exempted from the pen-down strike and any future agitation that may be called under its banner.
The circular further expressed gratitude to all associations, organizations, and individuals who have supported the strike, both overtly and covertly.
The JCC acknowledged that while the protest may cause inconvenience to the public, it is a necessary step to highlight critical issues of fairness, transparency, and meritocracy in Nagaland’s public administration. Citizens were urged to exercise patience and understanding until the demands of the strike are addressed for the long-term benefit of the state’s governance system.
The pen-down strike by the JCC has drawn attention to alleged irregularities in the IAS induction process, which critics say undermine transparency and demoralize dedicated state employees. The movement has garnered widespread support from multiple state service associations and civil society groups, who argue that fair selection processes are vital for the integrity and efficiency of public administration in Nagaland.
ANSTA General Secretary Pekinto Y Jimo and President Kasheto Sumi reiterated their solidarity with the government employees’ movement but stressed the importance of safeguarding students’ academic progress. “While ANSTA fully supports the legitimate demands and unified voice of all government employees under the JCC, it is our professional and moral duty to ensure that students’ education is not disrupted,” they said in their representation.
The JCC has maintained that the strike will continue until the government addresses the concerns raised regarding the IAS induction process, reinforcing the principle that meritocracy and transparency are essential for a just and equitable system in Nagaland.
Nagaland Government forms Cabinet Sub-Committee amid IAS induction row
The Nagaland government on Thursday announced the formation of a Cabinet sub-committee to examine the ongoing dispute over the induction of non-State Civil Services (SCS) officers into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre. The decision comes as the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) continues its pen-down strike demanding that only NPSC-qualified officers be considered for IAS induction.
Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs KG Kenye, speaking at a press conference after a Cabinet meeting in Kohima, said the move is intended to pave the way for a peaceful resolution.
The panel, which will hold its first meeting on October 20, is chaired by Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang and includes Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, ministers KG Kenye and Metsubo Jamir, and Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen.
Kenye addressed the confusion surrounding the issue, explaining that entry through the Nagaland Public Service Commission is not the sole criterion for IAS induction. “What matters are officers’ annual reports, service records, integrity, loyalty, ability, commitment, and performance,” he said.
He added that officers must also have served at least eight years in a substantive capacity with unblemished records, and that recommendations undergo scrutiny by both the state screening committee and the Union Public Service Commission.
The minister acknowledged that a March 10 notification had sparked controversy because it specified that only NPSC-qualified officers would be eligible. Upon review, the Cabinet found procedural lapses, including a failure to notify the chief minister, who is also the minister-in-charge of Personnel and Administrative Reforms. The previous circular was therefore cancelled and replaced with a revised version.
Kenye further noted that the practice of inducting officers from non-SCS backgrounds dates back to the 1970s. He clarified that IAS rules of 1954 and subsequent DoPT guidelines do not mandate NPSC entry. “Nagaland has no separate rules on this. Nationwide, induction focuses on APARs and other performance indicators,” he said.
Responding to the agitating groups, the minister said grievances should be addressed through dialogue rather than sudden agitation. “Induction policy is a Cabinet decision. Any change in practice requires formal approval, not unilateral action,” Kenye added.
He also emphasized that while the JCC and other groups have insisted that NPSC entry should be the benchmark, the government’s review shows that past practices included officers inducted through other service streams. “The issue of non-NPSC entry has never been entertained without proper procedure,” he said, calling for a more constructive approach to resolving the dispute.
CTAN extends support to JCC pen-down strike
The Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) has expressed its firm support and solidarity with the ongoing pen-down strike initiated by the Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees Association (CANSSEA), Federation of Nagaland State Services Employees Association (FONSESA), NSSA, and NF&ASA under the banner of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC).
In a statement issued on Wednesday, CTAN said it stands with the state service associations in their “rightful demand for transparency, meritocracy, and adherence to due process in the induction of officers into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).”
The association stated that irregularities in the selection process, including alleged backdoor appointments, undermine fairness and equal opportunity, which are essential for the progress of Nagaland’s public administration. “Such practices not only demoralize dedicated employees but also erode public trust in our governance systems,” it said.
The CTAN noted that the pen-down strike, which began on October 14, 2025, is a necessary step to highlight these critical issues and called upon “all right-thinking organizations” to join in the collective effort to ensure a just and equitable system.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability, the association said it remains guided by its motto, ”Probity ad Infinitum” – meaning honesty and integrity without end – and continues its mission to build a just, ethical, and corruption-free Nagaland.
The statement was issued by Er Meshenlo Kath, Convenor, and Er. Kaqheto, Co-Convenor of CTAN.
