CTAN calls off protest after department terminates services of ‘illegal appointees’

KOHIMA — The Directorate of Soil and Water Conservation on Tuesday terminated the services of two ‘illegally appointed’ Junior Soil Conservator Officers (JSCOs) following a protest called by the Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN).

On Tuesday morning, the CTAN held a protest outside the directorate in Kohima to protest the department’s failure to terminate the contract services of the two employees but called it off after receiving the termination notice from the department.

Briefing the media about the protest, Convenor of CTAN, Meshenlo Kath said that “the government is taking advantage because we are silent,” and opined that the matter should serve as a wakeup call for all the civil and engineering service aspirants in the state to fight for their rights.

He said that such issues are taken up by the association, for the benefit of all aspirants, and urged aspirants not to remain silent and fight against backdoor appointments. The association will continue to fight against illegal appointments in other departments in the days to come, he added.

Calling for ‘immediate cessation of the agitation,’ the CTAN also issued a press release acknowledging the prompt response and action taken by the directorate.

“Following successful negotiations and in compliance with CTAN’s demand to terminate the illegal JSCO appointees, the Directorate of Soil and Water Conservation had submitted the termination letter for the unauthorised appointees, the release stated.

It further added that the CTAN recognises the importance of maintaining open communication channels and fostering collaboration between organisations for the greater good.