Nagaland is bracing for a three-day pen down strike beginning October 14, as government employees across departments rally under a united front to protest the inclusion of a “non-merit” officer in the state’s latest IAS induction list.
The agitation, called by the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), a collective of five major government employees’ organisations, marks the third phase of a sustained protest campaign seeking to uphold merit-based recruitment within the state’s civil services.
At the heart of the dispute lies the Select List for induction into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre, finalised on September 25. The JCC claims that one of the names in the list does not belong to an officer recruited through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC), which it insists is a violation of long-established rules.
“The inclusion of a non-NPSC officer in the list contravenes established rules and undermines the merit-based system of public service recruitment,” the JCC said in a statement issued on Friday. The committee criticised the state government for its “silence and nonchalant attitude” toward what it described as a matter of “legitimate concern”.
The three-day pen down strike will be observed by all service associations affiliated with the Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees Association (CANSSEA), one of the principal constituents of the JCC. It follows earlier protest phases that saw employees wearing black badges and displaying posters in government offices.
The JCC said the latest phase of the agitation would continue its peaceful course while maintaining administrative discipline. “Directives issued by any non-governmental agencies not connected with the issue should be disregarded,” it cautioned.
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While the strike is expected to disrupt normal functioning in most government departments, the JCC said it was mindful of academic schedules and had decided to exempt all examinations in schools, colleges, and educational institutions from its purview.
The committee also expressed appreciation for the All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association (ANSTA), an affiliate of CANSSEA, for “promptly complying with the directive” and validating its circular as being “consistent with the purpose of the agitation.”
The JCC reiterated that its demand was rooted in principle, not politics, and emphasised that it sought only the preservation of fairness in state service recruitment. “We are compelled to protest not against the government as an institution but against the dilution of meritocracy that such appointments symbolise,” said one of its office-bearers.
According to sources familiar with the issue, the controversy stems from an alleged deviation from standard selection procedures by including a candidate who did not clear the NPSC route but was nonetheless shortlisted for IAS induction. The move has provoked deep resentment among employees who see it as an affront to merit and transparency.
The state government has yet to issue an official clarification on the allegation, though senior bureaucrats indicated that consultations were underway to defuse the situation. A senior official said the administration was “aware of the growing unrest” and was working toward “an amicable resolution.”
The pen down strike is expected to send a strong message across Nagaland’s bureaucratic and political circles. With more than 40,000 state employees represented under the JCC, observers warn that the protest could paralyse routine government work if the standoff persists.
Alongside CANSSEA, the other organisations under the JCC include the Nagaland Secretariat Service Association, the Nagaland Finance and Accounts Service Association, the Nagaland In-Service Doctors Association, and the Federation of Nagaland State Engineering Service Associations.
As the October 14 deadline approaches, pressure is mounting on the state government to address the concerns before the agitation begins. For now, the JCC stands firm in its call for justice — one that it says seeks not confrontation but correction.
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