The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has lodged a strong objection against the Department of Health and Family Welfare’s plan to regularize “98 contractual Medical Officers/Junior Specialists along with other health workers (total 280 posts) appointed during the COVID-19 pandemic through a mere departmental screening process.”
In a letter to the Chief Secretary, the NSF said the move is “deeply arbitrary and unconstitutional,” adding that “the Nagaland Health Service Rules, 2006 clearly mandate that recruitment to Class-I Gazetted posts must be conducted through the NPSC by way of duly advertised competitive examinations.”
The apex students’ body recalled its earlier warning dated September 4, 2024, that it had “categorically opposed any form of regularization outside the purview of the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) and the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB).” NSF charged that “the Department has gone against the same and issued the present notification in blatant disregard of established recruitment rules and procedures.”
Highlighting the scale of the irregularity, NSF noted that “between 2015 and 2024, only 61 Medical Officers were recruited through NPSC. Yet, this single notification seeks to regularize 98 in one go, despite Nagaland producing over 150 MBBS graduates annually.”
While acknowledging the pandemic service of healthcare workers, NSF stressed that “the Terms and Conditions of their engagement clearly stated that their appointments were purely temporary, valid for one year, with no claim to regularization under any circumstances.” The organization warned that “such one-time dispensations normalize backdoor appointments and will have long-term consequences of eroding public trust in governance.”
NSF reiterated its earlier recommendation for “special provisions in recognition of their service, including grace marks and one-time age relaxation, to be implemented through open recruitment under NPSC/NSSB, which remains the only fair and transparent approach.”
The students’ organization demanded immediate revocation of Notification No. HFW(A)10/34/2024/145, requisition of all 280 posts to the NPSC and NSSB for recruitment through open competitive examinations, and “implementation of special provisions such as grace marks and one-time age relaxation for COVID-19 appointees.”
The NSF warned that “any attempt to bypass due process will be met with strong democratic resistance” and urged the Chief Secretary to ensure that “the Department of Health and Family Welfare adheres to the legal framework of recruitment without further delay.”
The letter was signed by NSF President Medovi Rhi and Secretary Education Temjentoshi.
