Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: The Naga Students Federation (NSF) is tightening the screws on the Nagaland government to terminate 109 irregular and illegal appointments across 16 departments. Following an October 12 meeting with a Cabinet Sub-Committee, federation leaders demanded immediate action to uphold recruitment standards and merit-based hiring.
Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton chaired the meeting, which included Minister G Kaito Aye and Advisor Dr. Kekhrie Yhome. The NSF submitted its ultimatum on March 20, 2026. They want the government to honor its pledge to purge the payroll of backdoor hires. These irregular appointments, the NSF argues, strip deserving youth of their fair shot at employment.
Of the 109 cases, 13 involve Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) posts from 2018 to 2021, and 96 involve Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) roles from 2019 to 2023. Violations stem from failures to follow Office Memorandums dated June 6, 2016, and April 22, 2020. Officials confirmed that five employees in the NPSC and non-NPSC categories have already faced termination or resigned. Others underwent regularisation or received compassionate appointments, claims the NSF intends to audit closely.
The federation identified eight NPSC-related posts that bypassed prescribed processes, including roles in the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Home Guards and Civil Defence, Nagaland State Transport, Information and Public Relations, and Works and Housing. The government promised to issue termination orders for these eight individuals this week. The NSF also demands the removal of 22 employees hired for NSSB posts after the board was formed. Advisor Kekhrie Yhome noted, "For my part, I recommend that since they were appointed totally in disregard of the government standing order, they should be terminated."
Yhome cautioned that the legal fallout remains a concern. The government also identified 786 appointments made during a COVID-era recruitment ban, with 22 specifically flagged for potential termination. As the dust settles, the NSF expects all vacated posts to be referred immediately to the NPSC or NSSB for transparent, open recruitment. The federation plans to submit a second list of suspect appointments and is scouting for more data from the public to expand its investigation.
Updated at 13th October 2026 at 2:00am
Government officials clarified that the actual number of flagged cases stands at 107, as two names were duplicated in the initial count. The state categorized these cases into distinct groups, noting that 19 involve long-standing regularizations dating back 30 to 33 years, while others involve appointments against non-sanctioned posts. A total of 69 cases remain disputed and under review for further government action.
Advisor Dr. Kekhrie Yhome suggested that holding current employees accountable isn't the end of the road. He proposed that the state review the pensions of officials who signed off on these illegal hires, whether those bureaucrats have retired or already passed away. He argued that these officials abused their authority and placed a heavy financial burden on the state exchequer.
Beyond the 109 figure, the state revealed that 786 appointments made during the COVID-19 era are being examined for potential abuse of power. The government noted that since the Nagaland Staff Selection Board became operational in February 2022, it has successfully filled 1,511 Group C positions through transparent, competitive examinations.
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