Kohima, October 5 (MExN): In the wake of the mass casual leave undertaken by Nagaland Civil Service (NCS) officers under the banner of the Nagaland Civil Services Association (NCSA) an emergency of Cabinet meeting was held this morning followed by separate meetings with representatives of NCSA and Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees’ Association (CANSSEA) at the Chief Minister’s residential office.
A press note from the Chief Minister’s Office informed that after hearing their views, the Cabinet impressed upon the members that the issues raised by the associations should be resolved in accordance with the rules.
The Cabinet appealed to the members of the associations not to resort to mass casual leave/agitation and work towards amicable, fair and just resolution of the matter.
The Cabinet also constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee to examine all relevant issues relating to promotion/ selection to IAS and give its recommendations within a month to the.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee comprises of Imkong L Imchen, Minister, H&FW as Convenor and Y Patton, Minister, Home; Mmhonlumo Kikon, Minister, G&M/BA; Neiba Kronu, Minister, Forest; Abhishek Singh, Home Commissioner; Khanrinla Koza, Secretary, Law and K Sema, Addl Advocate General, Nagaland as members.
Chief Minister TR Zeliang meanwhile urged the members not to resort to “unhealthy agitation.”
NCSA urges timely intervention
The NCSA has meanwhile appreciated the formation of the cabinet subcommittee and urged the Nagaland Government to examine their grievances for timely intervention.
A press note from the NCSA informed that on February 29, 2016 the retirement of an NCS inducted IAS officer created a subsequent vacancy in the State IAS quota. However, the NCSA was disappointed at the government’s “unprecedented decision to fill the vacant post from amongst the non SCS (State Civil Service) officers.”
The NCSA however made it clear that the association “in no way demeans the capabilities of officers from other services but rather appreciates the immense contributions they have made to the state’s progress thus far.”
As per the IAS (Recruitment) Rules 1954, non SCS may be accommodated within the 33.33% of the total strength of the IAS cadre of a state under “special circumstances”, limited to a maximum of 15% of the 33.33%, the NCSA informed.
While acknowledging the provisions for selection of officers from non SCS to the IAS, the NCSA however viewed that “interpretation of rules appears to have become a point of contention and that such a contentious issue should have been deliberated and resolved instead of unilaterally interpreting it to deny the SCS.”
It added that the Civil Service Board (CSB) in view of the urgency recommended the above stated vacancy to be filled up from among the “eligible and meritorious SCS (NCS) officers” which was approved by the Nagaland CM on June 30, 2017. However, on September 16, 2017, this recommendation of the CSB and approval thus given was “unceremoniously overturned without a definitive reason.” “The unprecedented decision of the Government” is being viewed deeply as a mark of betrayal and disregard, it said.
Expressing concern that the vacancy remains unoccupied even now, the NCSA informed that it was compelled to hold an emergency consultative meeting to “deliberate for maintenance of status quo and ensure that the IAS post is filled up from amongst the NCS since the vacancy arose due to the superannuation of an IAS officer who was inducted from the NCS.”
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