Nagaland Medical Students’ Association backs NSF demand to revoke regularisation of Covid-era medical officers, citing threats to merit, transparency and equal opportunity.
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DIMAPUR — Backing the Naga Students’ Federation’s ultimatum, the Nagaland Medical Students’ Association (NMSA) has urged Nagaland government to revoke the regularisation of 97 Covid-era medical officers, warning that bypassing the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) undermines merit, transparency and equal opportunity.
In a statement, the association maintained that while it respects the judgement delivered by the Kohima Bench Gauhati High Court on December 11, the direct regularisation of Class I gazetted medical posts raises serious policy, institutional and governance concerns.
The NMSA stated that regularisation outside the purview of NPSC and Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) erodes public trust in statutory recruitment institutions and jeopardises the future of hundreds of qualified medical graduates preparing for competitive examinations.
Endorsing the demands placed by the NSF before the government, the association called for immediate revocation of all notifications related to the regularisation of medical officers and junior specialists appointed during the Covid-19 pandemic, including the notification issued on December 16.
It further demanded that all 280 posts be requisitioned to the NPSC and NSSB for recruitment strictly through open, advertised and competitive examinations.
Also read: Nagaland regularises 97 Covid-era medical officers
NSF issues ultimatum to Nagaland government over regularisation of Covid-era medical officers
While acknowledging and appreciating the services rendered by healthcare workers during the pandemic, the NMSA maintained that recognition of service must remain within the constitutional and statutory framework governing public employment.
It pointed out that Covid medical officer appointments were clearly temporary and contractual, with no assurance of regularisation.
Referring to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare advisory dated May 3, 2021, the association stated that preference for Covid duty should be extended through competitive recruitment and not through selective regularisation.
It further pointed out that several healthcare workers who rendered more than 100 days of Covid duty have been excluded from consideration.
The NMSA suggested alternatives such as one-time age relaxation, additional weightage of marks and preference clauses within competitive examinations to recognise pandemic service without bypassing the NPSC.
It warned that large-scale deviation from merit-based recruitment could weaken institutional credibility and adversely affect morale within the health system.
Urging the government to uphold the Nagaland Health Service Rules, 2006, the association called for strengthening statutory recruitment bodies and ensuring fairness, transparency and institutional integrity in all future appointments.