HC seeks clarity on NCC officer’s ward MBBS seat eligibility

DIMAPUR — The Gauhati High Court has directed the central government counsel to file an affidavit clarifying whether the daughter of an NCC officer posted in Kohima qualifies for one of the 42 MBBS seats allotted to Nagaland under the central pool quota.

The order was passed on September 22 by a division bench comprising Justice Michael Zothankhuma and Justice Anjan Moni Kalita during the hearing of an appeal filed by the Nagaland government against an earlier single-judge ruling that had directed allotment of a seat to petitioner Vatsala Panghal.

The bench noted that Clause 1.2 of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s office memorandum dated July 28, 2025, specifies eligibility for central pool seats, including children of state residents, state government employees, and central government employees posted or deputed to a state.

While the ministry has already informed the court that wards of Army personnel fall under a separate Defence quota and not under Nagaland’s share of 42 seats, the petitioner argued that she should be considered eligible since her father is serving with the 1 Nagaland Battalion NCC in Kohima.

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The Additional Advocate General for Nagaland submitted that the NCC headquarters is located in Shillong, not Nagaland, and therefore the petitioner does not fall under the provisions of the July 28 memorandum.

The bench has asked the Centre to clarify whether the term “concerned” in Clause 1.2(3) refers to the state government or the territory, and whether the petitioner qualifies for a seat under Clauses 3 or 4 of the guidelines.

The case will be heard again on October 13. The interim stay keeping one MBBS seat vacant will continue until then.