Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 15
The Supreme Court on December 15 has listed the Special Leave Petition (SLP) concerning Nagaland’s Central Pool MBBS quota policy for final hearing in February next year.
“List for final disposal on 03.02.2026,” stated the order issued by the two-judge Bench of Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Atul S Chandurkar after hearing the matter on Monday.
Earlier, on November 3, the Court granted limited interim relief, allowing the petitioner, a ward of an NCC officer serving in Nagaland, to participate in the MBBS counselling process.
The Bench, however, had categorically clarified that the permission would “not give any right to claim in favour of the petitioner.” The matter was heard again on November 19.
The SLP before the apex court, filed by a medical aspirant, challenges the Gauhati High Court Division Bench ruling on October 23, 2025 that upheld Nagaland’s 2021 notification on the allocation of Central Pool MBBS seats.
The Division Bench held that the quota assigned to Nagaland is intended for local candidates under the “deficit-State” category, whereas wards of defence personnel fall under a separate Central Pool administered by the Ministry of Defence.
In August, a single-judge of the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench had quashed Nagaland’s notification dated September 9, 2021, holding it “arbitrary” and contrary to Central guidelines, and directing that the aspirant be considered for a Central Pool seat.
Thereafter, the State appealed the verdict before the Division Bench.
