Dimapur, August 27 (MExN): The Nagaland Medical Students’ Association (NMSA) has condemned a Department of Health and Family Welfare’s recent notification dated 18th August 2025, which calls for the regularisation of 98 contractual Medical Officers/Junior Specialists and other COVID-19 contractual posts through departmental screening.
The association described the move as “arbitrary, unjust, and in gross violation” of the Nagaland Health Service Rules, 2006, which mandate that Class-I Gazetted Officers must be recruited only through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) via a duly advertised written examination and viva voce.
In a statement, the NMSA said the notification undermines fundamental rights by denying aspirants equal opportunity to compete, disregarding meritocracy, which forms the backbone of public service recruitment.
The association highlighted that regularising contractual appointees through departmental screening bypasses established norms and recruitment procedures, raising concerns over the quality of healthcare in the state.
It pointed out that if the regularisation proceeds, over 40% of the state’s Medical Officer workforce will consist of now and previously regularised contractual appointees—the last such exercise being conducted on 10th March 2017.
The association cautioned that regularising Class-I Gazetted contractual posts could permanently harm the integrity of Nagaland’s public health service system, creating stagnancy in future recruitments and denying opportunities to deserving candidates.
The NMSA also noted a stark contrast in recruitment numbers, highlighting that between 2015–2024, the department recruited only 61 Medical Officers through the NPSC process.
Yet, in a single notification, 98 contractual officers are being regularised outside NPSC procedures, even as Nagaland produces over 152 MBBS graduates and 12 dental graduates annually, it added.
In this connection, the association has demanded the immediate revocation of the notification and that all posts be requisitioned to NPSC/NSSB for fresh recruitment through advertised written examinations and viva voce open to all eligible candidates.
It further urged citizens, students’ bodies, NGOs, and aspirants to unite against what it termed a regressive and discriminatory policy.
The NMSA concluded by reiterating that if the department proceeds with the move, it will exercise its full democratic rights, including agitation, to safeguard the future of medical aspirants and uphold meritocracy in Nagaland.
Court backs regularisation
It must be noted that the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court dismissed two separate writ petitions challenging the Nagaland government’s decision to regularise the 98 in-service medical officers.
In its August 1 ruling, the Single-Bench Judge held that neither group of petitioners could be considered “aggrieved persons” under the law and described the State’s Special Recruitment Drive (SRD) as a reasonable, one-time policy decision taken under extraordinary circumstances. It remains unclear whether the petitioners, Medical Graduates possessing MBBS degree from recognised universities, have challenged the court’s verdict. The Department’s recent notification appears to be a consequence of the Court’s order.
