Nagaland: High Court stays regularisation of Covid-era health workers

KOHIMA — The Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, has stayed the Cabinet decision and the Department of Health and Family Welfare’s notification seeking regularisation of health workers who were appointed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The medical students had filed a writ appeal challenging the court’s common judgment and order passed on August 1, 2025, by a single judge dismissing the writ petition primarily on three grounds.

Hearing the appeal on September 3, a bench comprising of Justice Devashis Baruah and Justice Pranjal Das passed “interim directions” on the matter.

The court stayed the Cabinet decision of August 6, 2024, and the Health department's notification of August 18.

“No steps for regularisation be taken by the State Respondents on the basis of the Cabinet decision dated 06.08.2024 as well as the Notification dated 18.08.2025,” it added.

Also read: Nagaland Health department puts regularisation of Covid appointees on hold after HC order

The court also granted “liberty to the state respondents to fill up the vacant posts by carrying out Special Recruitment Drive (SRD) allowing all eligible candidates to participate and giving weightage to all healthcare workers who rendered service during the COVID pandemic.”

The court observed that the challenge to the Cabinet decision has merits and that the learned single Judge had failed to consider the settled principles of law in dismissing the writ petition.

“As we are presently considering the legality and validity of the Cabinet decision dated 06.08.2024 on the touchstone of Article 14 and Article 16(1) of the Constitution and the settled principles of law, we are of the opinion that permitting the State Respondents to go ahead with the present regularisation process would not be in the interest of justice,” the court stated.

Read more: Nagaland medical students call off protest after HC stays Health department notification

The court was of the opinion that “allowing the present regularisation process would result in creation of various rights and as such, it would be in the interest of justice that the present regularisation process is stalled pending disposal of the appeal”.

It further urged the appellants, who are members of the Nagaland Medical Students’ Association (NMSA), not to resort to strikes taking into account that the court is presently adjudicating the dispute.

Stating that the appeal required an “urgent disposal”, the appeal was fixed for hearing on September 24.

Following the court’s direction, the Department of Health and Family Welfare has kept in abeyance the process of regularisation through Department Screening Committee on September 4.

The NMSA also called off its agitation against the department’s notification, citing the matter being sub judice.