The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has lodged a strong objection to the inclusion of Vatsala Panghal under the Nagaland State Quota for NEET 2025 admissions, alleging that she is not indigenous to Nagaland and therefore ineligible for the reserved seat.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary, Government of Nagaland, the NSF said it was “duty-bound to safeguard the rights, privileges, and opportunities meant for the indigenous people of Nagaland” and urged immediate disqualification of the candidate.
According to the NSF, Vatsala Panghal, who scored 455 marks in NEET 2025 with an All India Rank of 113803 and State Rank Category III, Serial No. 1, is the daughter of Colonel Lovelesh Panghal, Commanding Officer of 1 Nagaland NB, NCC, posted in Kohima. While she has listed a Kohima address, the NSF asserted that her domicile and state belonging is Haryana, and she does not belong to any recognized Scheduled Tribe of Nagaland.
The Federation maintained that the Nagaland State Quota is reserved for “Nagas by blood and indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland”, as mandated under existing policies and in keeping with the constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Tribes in the State.
The NSF said it has consistently opposed and prevented instances where non-indigenous individuals attempt to claim these limited and highly competitive seats through temporary postings, forged affiliations, or misinterpretations of eligibility.
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“Allowing such ineligible candidature would set a dangerous precedent, depriving deserving indigenous Naga students of their rightful opportunities and eroding the very essence of the State Quota policy,” it cautioned.
The NSF revealed that it has initiated a physical verification of documents for all State Quota candidates in their office in Kohima this month, under the supervision of Education Committee. The verification includes mandatory scrutiny of Scheduled Tribe Certificates and Indigenous Inhabitant Certificates to ensure complete compliance. Any candidate failing to prove their eligibility beyond doubt must be declared ineligible immediately, it added.
In its letter, the NSF president, Medovi Rhi and secretary, education, Temjentoshi urged the Chief Secretary to disqualify Vatsala Panghal from consideration under the Nagaland State Quota for NEET 2025, and direct the concerned authorities to tighten verification processes to prevent future attempts by non-indigenous candidates.
The NSF urged the Chief Secretary to treat this matter with utmost urgency in the interest of protecting the educational rights of indigenous Nagas.
