Section of the attendees at the “Public Discussion on Fair Recruitment, Transparency and Merit” held in Kohima on October 3. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 3
The Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF), in collaboration with the Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN), on Saturday conducted a “Public Discussion on Fair Recruitment, Transparency and Merit” at Old NST Parking Area, Kohima. It focused on matters concerning various examinations conducted by Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) and Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB).
Videkhono Yhokha, Advisor NNQF highlighted the core points of the court case filed by NNQF since 2019 against the backdoor appointments from different departments.
Stating that the contractual appointments were done without advertisements, she said, “Without advertisements means violation of our constitutional rights, Article 14 and 16, Right to equality and Right to equal opportunity.”
She said the writ petitions were dismissed twice, in 2022 and 2025, but only on maintainability and technical grounds, never on merit.
The 2025 judgment declared the petitioners to lack locus standi. That ruling was appealed to a two-judge bench, which delivered its judgment on September 23, 2026. She said the bench quashed the 2025 judgment and held that the 2022 and 2025 judgments did not conform to the constitutional principles under Articles 14 and 16.
She said the NNQF considered the 2026 judgment as a landmark “because it favoured us.”
“This landmark judgment has reaffirmed our faith in the judiciary, and the purpose of this public discussion is to restore faith and trust in the system again,” she said.
The judgment also ordered an end to further extensions of contractual appointments and directed the government/authorities to create the required posts and advertise them, she said.
She said the fight is not personal or targeted at any individual, as some assume, but an attempt to begin somewhere “so that justice is not as complicated as it seems now to our society.”
A representative from NNQF said, “Speaking up does not necessarily mean standing against someone. Sometimes, it simply means we care enough about our system to ask questions, seek clarity and help make it better.”
He made clear that “this is not an anti-government movement. It is an effort to constructively engage with the system and raise concerns wherever greater clarity, transparency or improvement is needed.”
“Our intention is not to undermine the government or its institutions, but to help build a system where deserving and qualified candidates get a fair opportunity to serve the government and, ultimately, the people more effectively,” he said.
He added that raising genuine concerns and seeking clarification do not hinder the government's progress. “On the contrary, constructive feedback and healthy public participation can strengthen the system, identify areas for improvement, and bring out the best in our people, who are willing and capable of serving the government with sincerity, integrity and commitment.”
A CTAN Core Committee member said that according to India’s PLFS (Periodic Labour Force Survey) 2017-18, Nagaland recorded the highest unemployment rate among Indian states and Union Territories, at 21.4%.
He said that while other states are booming with corporate businesses, companies, industries, and entrepreneurship, “we are often compelled to compete for a limited number of government jobs—some of which are also surrounded by concerns about transparency.”
He said Nagaland should not become known merely as “Nagaland for the Hornbill Festival, Nagaland for music concerts, Nagaland for tribalism, Nagaland for taxation, and Nagaland for Nagalim.”
Representatives from NEHU Research Scholar Forum, All Nagaland Pre-Service Teacher Association and other concerned citizens and aspirants also spoke at the programme.
CTAN Convenor Er Meshenlo Kath highlighted its recent ultimatum submitted to the government with three demands. “We want fair and transparent examination,” he said.
Stating that CTAN is yet to receive response from the government so far, he said that CTAN may give a re-appeal to the government by next week. If it is not addressed, we will be compelled to come down to the streets again, Kath said.
