Calls move unconstitutional, demands revocation of notification and recruitment through NPSC within 45 days
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has issued an ultimatum to the Nagaland government opposing the regularization of medical officers appointed on a contractual basis during the COVID-19 pandemic, describing the move as arbitrary, unconstitutional and a violation of established recruitment norms.
In a representation addressed to the Chief Secretary on December 20, the NSF said it was compelled to take the step following what it termed the government’s “persistent disregard for constitutional provisions, established recruitment rules and repeated representations submitted by the Federation concerning the illegal regularization of contractual health workers appointed during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The NSF said it had consistently objected to any proposal to regularize medical officers, junior specialists and other health workers appointed during the pandemic through any mechanism outside the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) and the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB).
“Despite these reasoned and principled representations, the State Government has chosen to completely ignore the aspirations of thousands of qualified Naga youth and the repeated measures as recommended by the Federation, measures that would both recognize the service rendered during the pandemic and simultaneously safeguard the sanctity of open competitive recruitment,” the NSF stated.
The ultimatum comes days after the Health and Family Welfare Department regularized the services of 97 medical officers engaged during the pandemic through Notification No. HFW(A)10/34/2024/5 dated December 16, 2025. The decision followed approval by the State Cabinet and a judgment of the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench. The department stated that the regularization was carried out on the recommendation of a departmental screening committee and in the interest of public service.
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However, the NSF maintained that recruitment to Class I Gazetted posts is governed by the Nagaland Health Service Rules, 2006, which mandate selection strictly through competitive examinations conducted by the NPSC. It reiterated that such actions are arbitrary, unconstitutional and legally untenable. “By regularizing medical officers outside the scrutiny of the NPSC, the Department of Health and Family Welfare has willfully bypassed the rule of law and violated the principle of equal opportunity in public employment as enshrined in the Constitution of India,” the federation stated.
The NSF pointed out that between 2015 and 2024, only 61 medical officers were recruited through the NPSC, despite Nagaland producing over 150 MBBS graduates annually. It argued that the regularization of 97 medical officers in one instance denied thousands of qualified aspirants a fair opportunity.
While acknowledging the services rendered by doctors during the pandemic, the federation noted that their appointments were explicitly temporary and did not carry any assurance of regularization. It warned that converting emergency engagements into permanent posts amounted to legitimizing backdoor entry into government service.
The NSF demanded immediate revocation of all notifications related to the regularization, requisition of all 280 posts to the NPSC and NSSB within 45 days, and implementation of special provisions such as grace marks and one-time age relaxation for COVID-19 appointees through open competitive recruitment.
The NSF stated that its ultimatum was issued in the interest of justice, constitutional propriety and the future of Naga youth. “Any further attempt by the State Government to bypass due process, dilute recruitment norms, or legitimize backdoor appointments will compel the Federation to initiate strong democratic resistance, the responsibility for which shall rest solely with the Government,” the NSF cautioned.
