NSF Demand: Govt says 109 appointments under scrutiny

•    Actual number is 107; 69 still disputed•    22 appointments made despite recruitment banMorung Express NewsKohima | October 12Against the backdrop of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) demand for the termination of 109 alleged ‘backdoor’ appointments in 16 departments, Advisor for School Education and SCERT, Dr Kekhrie Yhome, said the government had examined the 109 appointments flagged by the student body and classified them into different categories based on the circumstances of their appointment.Speaking to the media after a meeting with the Federation called by the Sub-committee on Temporary PIMS, Yhome who is a member of the Committee recalled that NSF had submitted a representation to the Chief Minister in June 2019, raising concerns over alleged irregularities in departmental appointments. In today’s meeting, Yhome said necessary documents were being furnished to the NSF to help clarify the status of the cases. He also clarified that the number should be 107 as two names are repeated.109 appointments classified into categoriesAccording to Yhome, the government’s scrutiny of the 109 cases revealed several distinct categories. He said 19 cases involved regularisation of service in accordance with government policy, with the employees concerned having been appointed around 30 to 33 years ago.Another 12 cases involved appointments to posts under the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) without open advertisement. These comprised eight cases and an additional four cases, for which the committee had recommended termination, he said.Three other appointments were made against posts that had not been sanctioned, prompting a recommendation for termination. In four cases, the employees had already been terminated for procedural irregularities.After accounting for these categories, 69 disputed appointments in Nagaland have been identified for further consideration by the government. He further informed that the cases were further examined according to the circumstances surrounding each appointment, with the committee identifying six categories initially, which he said should ultimately be divided into seven.He added that the cases could not be treated uniformly, as the legal and administrative circumstances differed from one appointment to another.The sub-committee on Temporary PIMS, constituted by the government this year, was tasked with examining the matter after the NSF approached the government through the Chief Secretary. He said the committee had also asked the P&AR Department to furnish the necessary documents for certain cases, while others would have to await a Cabinet decision.Yhome said the Committee had explained the different categories to the NSF and would submit recommendations to the Cabinet, which would decide on the cases requiring further action.Despite the government’s April 21, 2020, order imposing a blanket ban on fresh appointments as part of COVID-19 austerity measures, recruitment continued in some departments, Yhome alleged, describing such appointments as an abuse of official authority.22 appointments allegedly violated recruitment banOf the 69 cases, Yhome said 22 fell under a category involving appointments made despite and inspite the government’s standing order prohibiting fresh recruitment. These cases were also part of a larger group of 786 appointments identified by the government as having allegedly involved misuse or abuse of authority.Referring to appointments in the Personnel and Administrative Reforms (P&AR) Department, which were classified under the T4 category, Yhome said recommendation has been made for termination in cases where appointments were made in disregard of the government’s standing order. He clarified, however, that these were his personal recommendations and not the official position of the government.Yhome also raised concerns about the accountability of officials who had authorised the appointments, noting that some had died while others had retired and were receiving pensions.Giving his personal view, he said the government should examine whether the pensions of officials responsible for such appointments needed to be reviewed, arguing that those who authorised irregular recruitment should also be held accountable.He said such appointments not only created false expectations among job seekers but also placed a financial burden on the state exchequer.NSSB seen as key to curbing backdoor appointmentsWhen asked about the backdoor appointments in several departments, the Advisor said the establishment of the NSSB had strengthened transparency in recruitment, particularly for Group C posts, which account for a substantial share of government appointments.Since the board has become operational in February 2022, he said, eight examination cycles have been conducted, resulting in 1,511 appointments through various examinations.He maintained that the absence of the NSSB in earlier years meant some appointments had been made through the procedures then available.Yhome claimed that the government was now better positioned to prevent irregular recruitment in Group C posts, while acknowledging that it continued to face challenges arising from past appointments, including excess and unqualified teachers.Teacher qualification issue remains a concernResponding to objections raised by teachers on Nagaland Teachers Eligibility Test (NTET) exams, including a representation submitted to the Chief Minister, Yhome said the government cannot grant special exemptions where compliance with Supreme Court directions was required.He maintained that the government would have to follow the applicable directives, stressing that the issue ultimately concerned the quality of education and the responsibility to ensure that teachers possessed the required qualifications.