The Nagaland Medical Students’ Association (NMSA) has declared its solidarity with the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and “strongly opposes the candidature of Ms Vatsala Panghal under the Nagaland State Quota for NEET UG (MBBS/BDS) 2025.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, the NMSA said, “While Ms. Vatsala Panghal, who has secured NEET UG 2025 Score: 455, All India Rank: 113803, Nagaland State Rank: Category III, S.No. 1, has listed an address in Kohima owing to her father’s present posting, it is an established fact that her domicile and permanent belonging is Haryana. She is neither a bonafide resident nor an indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland, and does not belong to any of the recognized Scheduled Tribes of the State. Her inclusion under Nagaland’s State Quota is, therefore, untenable and in direct violation of the very spirit of reservation policy.”
The association emphasized that “the State Quota for professional courses in Nagaland is strictly reserved for candidates who are Nagas by blood and indigenous inhabitants of the State, as provided under existing laws and policies.”
It further noted that “as a bonafide resident of Haryana, Ms. Panghal is eligible to seek admission through her home state counselling process. Claiming Nagaland’s State Quota on the strength of temporary residence or service postings constitutes misuse of a highly sensitive and protective policy measure.”
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The NMSA reminded that Nagaland receives only a “very limited number of MBBS seats (around 40–42) from the central pool towards its State Quota,” which it described as “already insufficient to meet the aspirations of thousands of deserving indigenous students.” The association cautioned that “any attempt by non-indigenous candidates to claim these seats would directly deprive genuine aspirants of their rightful opportunities.”
Calling the issue “not a mere matter of one application but a question of principle and precedent,” the association asserted, “Allowing such practices unchecked would open the door for misuse of the reservation framework, setting a dangerous precedent that could systematically erode the rights and opportunities of indigenous Nagas.”
The NMSA said it “stands firmly with the NSF” in demanding: “The immediate disqualification of Ms. Vatsala Panghal from consideration under the Nagaland State Quota for NEET UG 2025.”
“The institution of stricter verification and scrutiny measures by the competent authorities to ensure that non-indigenous candidates are not able to exploit the State Quota in future for any technical or professional courses.”
The NMSA President Pito S Rochill urged the authorities “to treat this matter with utmost seriousness and urgency, in order to uphold the sanctity of the reservation policy and safeguard the educational rights of the indigenous people of Nagaland.”
