The Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) has urged the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) to defer the ongoing Combined Staff Recruitment Examination (CSRE) until 43 additional requisitioned posts pending clearance from the Manpower Rationalisation Committee (MRC) are included in the recruitment process.
Addressing a press conference at the Kohima Press Club office on 21st September, CTAN Co- Convenor, Kaqheto highlighted that the Association had submitted a representation to the authorities. According to the representation, the current CSRE advertisement covers only 11 vacancies, while another 43 requisitioned posts remain pending MRC clearance.
The Association said more than 30,000 aspirants are preparing for the examination and expressed concern that asking such a large number of candidates to compete for only 11 posts would cause distress and discourage those who have spent years preparing for the recruitment examination.
“More than 30,000 aspirants are currently preparing for the examination,” Kaqheto said, stressing that the pending vacancies should be considered before the examination is conducted.
In view of the pending 43 posts, the Association prayed that the Commission withhold or defer the examination and allow the additional vacancies to be cleared and included in the CSRE advertisement.
CTAN said the inclusion of the additional posts would provide a wider opportunity for eligible candidates and ensure that the recruitment process takes into account the vacancies already requisitioned by departments.
Kaqheto said CTAN had obtained relevant data through the Right to Information (RTI) process and found that, besides the 11 posts cleared by the MRC and advertised, 43 additional Lower Division Assistant (LDA) posts had been requisitioned but were still awaiting clearance.
The Association also raised concerns over the Office Memorandum (OM) issued on September 15 regarding manpower rationalisation and recruitment. The Co- Convernor said it was not opposed to the government’s decision to rationalise manpower or the creation of a committee, but objected to provisions relating to filling existing vacancies and fresh recruitment.
CTAN seeks revocation of 2023 order, expansion of NSSB purview
The Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) has submitted a representation to the Chief Secretary of Nagaland seeking reconsideration of a 2023 order concerning the powers and recruitment jurisdiction of the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB).
In its representation, CTAN sought revocation of the order dated November 30, 2023, issued under Order No. AR-3/GEN-374/2020 (317), concerning the exercise of powers under Rules 50 and 51 of the NSSB Regulations, 2020, and issued pursuant to a Cabinet decision dated June 12, 2023.
The Association specifically sought reconsideration of the deletion of Section 45(12) of the principal NSSB Regulations, 2020, under the said order.
CTAN also called for the inclusion of eligible posts currently exempted from the purview of the NSSB, particularly posts under Pay Levels 3, 4 and 5 listed in Schedule-A of the NSSB Regulations, 2020.
The Association said bringing the eligible exempted posts under the NSSB would expand the recruitment opportunities available through the common recruitment mechanism.
In addition, CTAN sought deletion of Point 2, sub-points (a) to (f), of the Office Memorandum issued under Order No. AR/GEN-6/16/2026.
The Association said the provisions of the latest Office Memorandum could affect the recruitment process and the functioning of the NSSB and NPSC by subjecting vacancies to additional clearance procedures before recruitment.
CTAN has requested the government to reconsider the three issues raised in its representation and take necessary action to ensure timely recruitment against eligible vacancies.
CTAN Convenor, Meshenlo Kath said the provisions could result in recruitment being subjected to MRC and Cabinet clearance before vacancies are forwarded for examination, which, according to the association, could delay recruitment through the NPSC and NSSB.
“We are not against the whole OM. Maybe the government has some purpose, but we are against some of the contents,” Kath said, urging the government to delete the provisions concerning the clearance process for existing vacancies.
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The Association submitted a representation to the Chief Secretary outlining three major demands.
First, Kath sought the reintroduction of a provision in the NSSB Regulations, 2020, concerning interview marks. Kath said an earlier provision prescribed a minimum and maximum range for marks awarded during interviews, but that the provision was subsequently deleted through a government order.
He argued that the absence of such a provision could allow interview marks to be awarded without a specified minimum or maximum, and called for the earlier safeguard to be restored.
Second, Kath demanded that more Grade C and Grade D posts from departments currently outside the purview of the NSSB be brought under the Board’s recruitment process.
Kath cited departments and establishments including police, prisons, Lokayukta, home guards, civil defence, fire and emergency services, excise and the forest department as examples of areas with posts that are not covered by NSSB recruitment.
He said bringing such posts under the NSSB would increase the number of vacancies available through a common and neutral recruitment mechanism.
“Recently, 120 LDA posts under the administrative departments were advertised. If such posts were also under the NSSB, the number of vacancies would not have been only 11,” he said.
Third, CTAN called for the provisions dealing with filling existing vacancies and fresh recruitment under the September 15 OM to be deleted.
Kath said the Association had no objection to the government restricting creation of new posts if financial constraints were a concern, but existing vacancies should not be held up.
“If the government does not have money, don’t go for post creation. But they should not touch the vacancies. Let there be advertisement,” he said.
Kath also urged aspirants to actively support efforts concerning recruitment reforms, saying that merely remaining at home and complaining would not address the issue.
“If we are compelled to go to the streets, please come and join us,” Kath said, while stating that the association would consider further action if its demands were not addressed.
Seeks early recruitment of 83 Forest Guards, update on Forester-I posts
Kath also said it had submitted a representation to the Chief Conservator of Forests on September 21 regarding recruitment to 83 posts in the Forest Department.
The Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) has urged the Forest Department to expedite the advertisement of 83 Forest Guard posts and provide an update on the recruitment process for Forester-I posts.
In a representation to the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Forest Department, Nagaland, CTAN said the request was a reminder regarding the recruitment of the 83 Forest Guard posts.
The Association said during an earlier discussion, the CCF had assured that the 83 posts would be advertised within six months, by October 2026.
With the stipulated period approaching, CTAN requested the department to take necessary steps for early advertisement of the posts, stating that the recruitment was being eagerly awaited by eligible unemployed youth and forestry aspirants.
The Association also sought an update on the status of the Forester-I post advertisement, particularly the recruitment rules and the expected timeline for issuance of the advertisement.
CTAN expressed hope that the Forest Department would consider the requests and take necessary action at the earliest.
