Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has raised significant concerns regarding alleged illegal and irregular recruitment practices across 16 Nagaland government departments. During a press briefing on May 5, NSF President Mteisuding Heraang stated that these so-called backdoor appointments undermine meritocracy and deny qualified youth fair access to employment opportunities. The federation emphasized its commitment to protecting the interests of students by opposing hiring processes that bypass established competitive standards.
This investigation follows an ultimatum issued by the NSF to the state Chief Secretary on March 20, 2026, concerning 109 specific posts filled without adherence to mandatory procedures. The departments implicated include Nagaland State Transport, Public Health Engineering, Sericulture, Home Guards and Civil Defence, Food and Civil Supplies, Information and Public Relations, Urban Development, Taxes, Industries and Commerce, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Economics and Statistics, Law and Justice, Agriculture, Water Resources, Public Works Department, and Land Records and Survey.
According to NSF Vice President Vimeyiekho Vitso, the identified posts include 13 positions under the Nagaland Public Service Commission filled between 2018 and 2021, and 96 roles under the Nagaland Staff Selection Board filled between 2019 and 2023. The nature of these appointments varies, comprising 82 regular, 16 contractual, eight temporary, two casual, and one ad hoc position. The federation claims these roles were filled without open advertisements or necessary oversight.
The NSF highlighted that these actions violate clear government directives, including a June 2016 memorandum banning contract appointments and a March 2022 memorandum outlining strict guidelines for issuing appointment orders. By failing to follow the protocols mandated for the Nagaland Public Service Commission and other bodies, the federation argues the state has neglected its duty to ensure transparency in public recruitment.
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