The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Saturday issued a strong ultimatum to the Government of Nagaland, opposing what it termed as “arbitrary, unconstitutional and illegal regularization” of Medical Officers appointed on a contractual basis during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a representation addressed to the Chief Secretary, Government of Nagaland, the NSF accused the State Government of bypassing constitutional provisions, established recruitment rules and statutory bodies by regularising pandemic-era appointees without routing the process through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) or the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB).
The Federation stated that it had repeatedly engaged the government in good faith and submitted detailed objections through multiple representations dated August 22, 2024; September 4, 2024; and September 3, 2025, clearly opposing any move to regularize Medical Officers, Junior Specialists or other health workers appointed during the pandemic outside the constitutional mandate of the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) and the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB).
The Federation said 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 expressed grave concern that despite all objections, the State Government has gone ahead and regularized the services of 97 Medical Officers engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic under the Health & Family Welfare Department vide Notification No. HFW(A)10/34/2024/5 dated 16thDecember 2025. The Federation noted that this followed an earlier notification issued on August 18, 2025, which sought to regularize 97 contractual Medical Officers/Junior Specialists along with other health workers, totaling 280 posts, through a mere departmental screening process.
Reiterating that that such actions are “arbitrary, unconstitutional and legally untenable”, the NSF pointed out that the Nagaland Health Service Rules, 2006 clearly stipulate that recruitment to Class-I Gazetted posts must be conducted strictly through the NPSC by way of duly advertised competitive examinations. By regularizing Medical Officers outside the scrutiny of the NPSC, the Department of Health and Family Welfare has wilfully bypassed the rule of law and violated the fundamental principle of equal opportunity in public employment as enshrined in the Constitution of India, it added.
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The NSF highlighted that between2015 and 2024, the State managed to recruit only 61 Medical Officers through the NPSC, while Nagaland produces over 150 MBBS graduates annually. In stark contrast, the present notification seeks to regularize 97 Medical Officers “in one stroke” without providing equal opportunity to the vast pool of qualified aspirants who have been preparing for years for open examinations, it said.
While acknowledging and respecting the invaluable services rendered by doctors and healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the NSF stressed that the “Terms and Conditions” of their engagement explicitly stated that their appointments were purely temporary, for a fixed duration of one year, and would not confer any claim to regularization under any circumstances.
“To now convert these temporary, emergency engagements into permanent appointments amounts to legitimizing backdoor entry into government service,” it said.
The NSF clarified that it does not oppose the recognition of pandemic service, but has consistently advocated balanced and lawful alternatives, including the provision of grace marks and one-time age relaxation to COVID-19 appointees, to be implemented strictly through open competitive recruitment conducted by the NPSC and NSSB.
These recommendations would have ensured recognition of pandemic service without compromising merit, legality or equal opportunity, the NSF further said.
The NSF demanded immediate revocation of all notifications pertaining to regularization of Medical Officers/Junior Specialists and other health workers appointed during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Notification No. HFW(A)10/34/2024/5 dated 16thDecember 2025.
It also demanded requisition of all 280 posts to the NPSC and the NSSB for recruitment strictly through open, advertised and competitive examinations in accordance with existing service rules within 45 days.
It further demanded implementation of special provisions, such as grace marks and one-time age relaxation, exclusively for COVID-19 appointees, as earlier recommended by the NSF, to be applied within the framework of open competition.
The Federation warned that any further attempt by the State Government to bypass due process, dilute recruitment norms or legitimize backdoor appointments would compel the Federation to initiate strong democratic resistance, and the responsibility for which would rest solely with the Government.
The NSF urged the Chief Secretary to intervene decisively and immediately correct this “unconstitutional course of action” within the “legal framework governing public recruitment”.
