State Cabinet urges end to pen-down strike

Government Spokesperson justifies Cabinet’s decision

Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 30

The Nagaland Cabinet has appealed to the CANSSEA and other service associations to call off their ongoing pen-down strike, citing severe disruption to public services. 

Government Spokesperson and Minister for Power & Parliamentary Affairs, KG Kenye, said the Cabinet deliberated on the matter on October 28 and decided request the CANSSEA and other Service Associations to call off the agitation, as they have already submitted their representations individually to the DoPT and UPSC on the Select List 2024 for Selection of Non-SCS officers for induction to the IAS.

However, the JCC informed on Thursday that that the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), upon receiving its representations, have communicated back placing the onus of resolving the issue entirely on the State Government.

Addressing a press conference here this evening at Hotel Japfu, Kohima, on behalf of the Cabinet, Kenye appealed to all agitating parties to resume work, noting that public services have been badly affected by the ongoing pen-down strike. 

He also urged them to desist from any further agitation, noting that the pen-down strike since October 14, in connection with the induction of Non-State Civil Service officers into the IAS.
“The functioning of the Departments has been managed by only a few senior officers since then,” he added.

Sequence of events
Meanwhile, Kenye outlined the sequence of events leading to the Cabinet’s decision and informed that , following the retirement of an IAS officer (Non-SCS) on December 31, 2024, the DoPT conveyed in a letter dated February 13, 2025, the vacancy determination for recruitment of one officer from same category with  outstanding ability and merit.

On the basis of circular dated July 6, 2020, a ‘Vacancy Circular’ was issued on March 10, 2025 with similar eligibility criteria.

The Spokesperson, however, underscored that the March 10 circular was issued “without consideration and approval from the competent authority,” though applications were received. 

Accordingly, he added that the circular was withdrawn after “thorough deliberation” by the Cabinet via a notification dated March 25, 2025. 

A fresh vacancy circular was subsequently issued on April 24, 2025, in line with the Cabinet’s decision in its meeting held on March 27, he added. 

Kenye also informed that at its October 16 meeting, the Cabinet noted that the 2020 vacancy circular, which included an additional selection criterion specifying that only officers recruited through the NPSC may apply, should have been brought before the Cabinet as it involved a policy matter. 

No subsequent formal notification has been issued regarding this. The Cabinet therefore reiterated its decision taken on March 27, 2025, he added. 

The Minster also highlighted that Cabinet Sub-Committee was set up to meet the office bearers of the agitating service associations  on October 20 to present the factual details of the matter and urge them to desist from further agitation.

During the same, the JCC paper presented was a new submission before the Sub-Committee, who decided to place before the Cabinet.

The Chief Secretary and senior officials met with the JCC on October 24 in view of their intention to intensify the pen-down strike and commence a tool-down strike from October 27.

During the same, the JCC has submitted two representations, both dated October 24, 2025, which called for cancellation of the Panel List, which they claim is based on flawed applications and procedural errors stemming from the Vacancy Circular of April 24.

The restoration of March 10, 2025, Vacancy Circular in full, in line with the judgment of the Supreme Court in Civil Appeal Nos. 4426–4466 of 2023 was the second demand.

Panel submitted 
Meanwhile, Kenye insisted that that the guidelines for the induction of Non-SCS officers into the IAS of Nagaland are governed by Rule 4 of the IAS (Appointment by Selection) Regulations, 1997. T
The rule requires the State Government to propose for Committee consideration those not in the State Civil Service but serving the State, who are of outstanding merit, hold a substantive Gazetted post, and have at least five years of continuous service, equivalent to a Deputy Collector in the State Civil Service, he underscored. 

According to Kenye, base on the above rules, the Screening Committee, in its sitting on September 25, considered all 11 applicants, recommended a panel of five candidates, and, with the approval of the competent authority, and submitted to the UPSC.

The UPSC will follow its own procedure to select the candidate from the panel of names recommended by the State Government, he added.