Kohima, October 2 (MExN): The Confederation of All Nagaland State Service Employees’ Association (CANSSEA), along with allied organizations, has questioned what it termed the Government’s “double standard” on meritocracy in the induction of state service officers into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
In a press release issued by the Media Cell of its Core Committee, CANSSEA pointed out that while the Government has consistently projected meritocracy as the guiding principle for recruitment through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) and the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB), it has chosen to disregard the same principle in the IAS induction process.
“The Government has repeatedly claimed in public forums and even in the State Assembly that meritocracy is the guiding principle for appointments through NPSC and NSSB. However, the same Government is wilfully ignoring meritocracy when it comes to the premier IAS induction, the highest post in the country’s civil services,” the statement read.
The Core Committee raised several questions in this regard. It asked how backdoor appointees could be placed on equal footing with NPSC recruits for IAS induction when meritocracy is the basis for all other recruitments. It further sought clarification on the Government’s justification for “favouring backdoor appointees over those recruited through the NPSC.”
Referring to the withdrawal of the 10th March Vacancy Circular after the last date of submission, the Committee questioned whether this was done “only to pave way for specific favoured individual(s).” It said the act of withdrawing the circular, instead of rejecting the applications of ineligible candidates, was “malicious and shady.”
The statement also highlighted Criterion No. 4 of the March 10 circular, which restricted eligibility to NPSC recruits. The Core Committee asked whether this criterion violated the principles of meritocracy laid down in the Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) guidelines, and if so, in what manner.
“If the Government is confident of fairness, will it publish the full list of applicants, selection criteria, and the parameters used by the Screening Committee to prepare the select list?” the statement posed. It further asked whether it was not discriminatory that “lakhs of aspirants must prove their merit through NPSC, while favoured backdoor appointees can secure even IAS induction through manipulation and favouritism.”
The statement was issued by the Media Cell of the Core Committee, comprising CANSSEA, FONSESA, NIDA, NSSA, NF&ASA and NNPSGSEF.
