The Nagaland Medical Students’ Association (NMSA) on Monday staged its second day of peaceful protest outside the Department of Health & Family Welfare, reiterating opposition to the State Government’s decision to regularise contractual health workers recruited during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The protest began at the Secretariat Bus Stand, where aggrieved medical aspirants gathered and marched in procession to the Department of Health & Family Welfare.

Showing resentment over Government’s ignorance, NMSA president, Pito S Rochil said the second day of the agitation reflects the Association’s deep resentment against what he termed “injustice”. Strongly opposing the regularization order, he stated the move infringes upon democratic rights.

“Eligible candidates deserve to sit for the exam. From 2015 to 2024, only four advertisements have been issued by the Government and only 61 seats have been advertised so far, while at once 98 contractual doctors are going to be regularised. This is not legitimate,” he said.

The NMSA President further accused the Government of “playing with the future of aspirants,” adding that the decision would affect the future generations.

Questioning the credibility of appointments, he asked, “How can the department appoint Class-I gazetted officers without NPSC or without going through a proper channel? How can they regularise through a mere departmental screening? Today it is the medical department, tomorrow it will be any other department.”

Rochill also dismissed the Health Department’s statement that NMSA had filed a case against the State. “That is not true. They are trying to mislead the public. NMSA has never filed a case against the State or the department. It was the senior petitioners. They are separate petitioners and NMSA is a different association,” he clarified.

On the Department’s claim that the court had given directions for regularisation, Rochill explained that the court had never issued such an order. “The petition was dismissed, and that is not a direction,” he said, calling the issue “a very sensitive case”.  He further raised questions on the credibility of becoming a doctor without proper exam and through proper exam.

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Expressing solidarity with NMSA, Er. Meshenlo Kath, Convenor of the Confederation of Technical Associations of Nagaland (CTAN), reminded that CTAN has opposed the special recruitment drive since 2024. He highlighted that on August 23, 2024, CTAN had submitted an ultimatum to the department, stating that the 280 posts cannot be filled through special recruitment as it violates NPSC Rule No. 9 Clause 4, which requires that all posts—technical and non-technical—with pay bands of ₹5,200–20,200 and grade pay of ₹2,800 and above must be requisitioned through the NPSC. “It is also a violation of Article 16 of the Constitution of India,” he said.

He mentioned that CTAN is not condemning the doctors, nurses and technicians, whose names are in the lists of 280, however, requested the government to look into the matter.

Meshenlo maintained that sacrifices made during COVID cannot be the sole basis for regularization of 280 selected people.

“Like in other States, if they want to give preference to COVID warriors, they can grant some extra marks,” he said and appealed to the Government and department not to kill the spirit of aspirants.

Meanwhile, NMSA has submitted a representation to the Chief Secretary and the Principal Director of Health & Family Welfare, terming the Government’s decision as “arbitrary, unconstitutional, and in direct violation of the Nagaland Health Service Rules, 2006.” The Association pointed out that the rules mandate recruitment to Class-I Gazetted posts exclusively through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) by way of duly advertised written examinations and viva voce.

The representation further stated that the notification infringes upon the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India, including the right to equality of opportunity in public employment under Articles 14 and 16. “The Association cannot remain a mute spectator while these rights are being violated,” it stated.

The NMSA put forward two key demands: immediate revocation of Notification No. HFW(A)10/34/2024/145 dated August 18, 2025, and immediate requisitioning of all sanctioned posts to the NPSC/NSSB for open, merit-based recruitment through duly advertised competitive examinations and viva voce, in strict adherence to service rules.

Reiterating its stand for justice, fairness, and transparency, the NMSA cautioned that if the Government fails to comply with its demands, the Association will be compelled to exercise its democratic rights to continue peaceful agitation in order to safeguard meritocracy and the legitimate rights of medical aspirants in Nagaland.