Kohima, October 13: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has reiterated its demand for the immediate termination of 109 alleged illegal appointments across 16 departments of the Nagaland Government, following a joint meeting with the Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton on Monday.
Addressing a press conference at the NSF office in Kohima, NSF President Mteisuding, Vice President Vimeyiekho Vitso, General Secretary Kenilo Kent and Assistant General Secretary Veze Tunyi briefed the media on the outcome of the meeting and the Federation’s ongoing campaign against illegal and irregular appointments in government departments.The Federation stated that the Cabinet Sub-Committee had assured it that employees appointed illegally outside the purview of the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) and the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) would be terminated.
The NSF said it would continue examining the cases to ensure accountability and uphold fairness, transparency and meritocracy in government recruitment.According to the NSF, the 109 appointments identified across 16 departments comprise 13 NPSC-category posts appointed between 2018 and 2021 and 96 NSSB-category posts appointed between 2019 and 2023. The Federation alleged that these appointments violated government office memoranda and recruitment regulations.The NSF traced its campaign to August 21, 2019, when it submitted a representation to the Chief Minister seeking the establishment of the NSSB to ensure a transparent and merit-based recruitment system.
It subsequently submitted a representation on August 31, 2019, demanding a blanket ban on appointments until the Board was constituted.The NSSB became operational in February 2022. Since then, 1,511 Group C posts have reportedly been filled through eight examination cycles, the Federation stated.The NSF said it had served an ultimatum on the State Government on March 20, 2026, demanding the termination of illegal appointees.
It added that the agitation was kept on hold following an assurance from the Chief Secretary that the government was taking the issue seriously.During Monday’s meeting at the Deputy Chief Minister’s chamber at the Secretariat, the Cabinet Sub-Committee was represented by Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton, Minister C. L. John, Adviser Dr. Kekhrie Yhome, Principal Secretary of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (P&AR), and officials from the concerned departments.
The Federation said it was informed that, among the non-NPSC-category cases, two employees had been terminated and two had resigned. In the NPSC category, three employees had been terminated and one had resigned.The NSF was also informed that some appointments had been regularised on the grounds that the individuals were previously serving as work-charged employees under the existing regularisation policy.
Other cases involved compassionate appointments, appointments under NSSB provisions and appointments made with government approval.The Federation stated that it would examine these cases to determine whether the government’s explanations were justified and whether the appointments complied with the applicable rules.
The NSF further disclosed that eight individuals were still occupying NPSC-category posts despite allegedly being recruited outside the Commission’s purview. These include two Foresters under the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; one Platoon Commander and one Assistant District Commandant under Home Guards and Civil Defence; two Assistant Station Superintendents under Nagaland State Transport; one Information Assistant under Information and Public Relations; and one Stenographer under Works and Housing.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee reportedly assured the Federation that these eight employees would be terminated. The NSF demanded their immediate termination, along with that of 22 employees occupying NSSB-category posts who were appointed after the Board’s constitution.The Federation also highlighted 47 NSSB-category appointments made after its August 31, 2019, representation seeking a ban on appointments, but before the NSSB was formally constituted. The committee requested the NSF to consider these cases, and the Federation said it would examine their merits before taking a final position.
Reaffirming its stand, the NSF demanded that all illegal and irregular appointments be terminated and that sanctioned posts left vacant following termination or resignation be referred immediately to the NPSC and NSSB for open recruitment. It also called for the immediate termination of employees appointed against non-sanctioned posts, irrespective of the mode of appointment.The Federation announced that it would submit a second list of alleged backdoor appointments covering departments beyond the 16 already under scrutiny.
It also said it was examining departments that remain outside the NSSB’s purview and would continue pressing the government to bring them under the Board’s recruitment system.Clarifying its position, the NSF said its opposition was not directed at individuals but at a system that undermines fairness, transparency and merit. It appealed to appointees who were aware of irregularities in their recruitment to voluntarily step down, citing the need to protect the employment opportunities of thousands of Naga youths.
The Federation also urged members of the public to report suspected illegal or irregular appointments in any state government department to the NSF office, assuring that the confidentiality of those providing information would be maintained.Thanking the Cabinet Sub-Committee and the State Government for taking up the issue, the NSF expressed hope that continued cooperation would help reform the recruitment system and ensure equal opportunities for future generations of Naga youths.The Federation maintained that it would continue its campaign until the alleged irregularities were addressed and a fair, transparent and merit-based recruitment process was established across the state government.
