Medicine students in Nagaland on Saturday (August 30, 2025) started protest against the transfer of the state government to regulate 280 contractual healthcare workers without passing competing examinations.
Agis in Aegis from the Association of Medicine Students Nagaland (NMSA) organized a demonstration outside the Office for Health and Family Care in Kohima.
Demonstration comes as a result of the state government, which issued an announcement on August 18, which announced the regularization of 280 denominators of the COVID era, including medical officers, dentists, Ayush practitioners and nurses, through the screening of the department.
NMSA claimed that it was bypassing the constitutionally ordered recruitment processes and violating the Nagaland Health Service rules from 2006, which require all the positions of class I officers to gain through the Nagaland Commission (NPSC).
“This decision undermines meritocracy and violates Articles 14 and 16 institutes that guarantee equality of law and equal opportunities in public jobs,” said President NMSA Pito S. Rochill during the protest.
The student body demanded an immediate cancellation of the notification of 18 August and insisted that all future appointments in the health sector sector should be carried out through open competing examinations through NPSC.
“We are not against those who served during the Covid-19 pandemic.
They argued that the government’s decision to circumvent written exams for class I contributions would set a dangerous precedent. According to the rules of Nagaland health services, recruitment requires 100% selection for these contributions via NPSC. “Why are recruitment rules introduced if they should not be followed?” He asked Mr. Rochill and called this step “illegal and arbitrary”.
Asked about the reports on court decisions concerning this matter, the NMSA leaders have explained that while the previous action was “dismissed”, the court did not issue any directive that would allow or approve regularization.
“The case was rejected without direction. This does not mean that the government can continue uncontrolled,” President NMSA added.
When asked whether they were looking for a legal course, Mr. Rochill said they were just attracting and examining legal means if necessary.
While the Ministry of Health and Family Care has not yet been issued to the public, the sources have said that the process of regularization, including medical fitness tests and interviews, began since August 27.
NMSA leaders expressed disappointing that there were no preliminary information about the interview data, and claimed that the process was lacking in transparency.
Demonstrators referred to civil society, student bodies, NGOs and the general public to teach their demand for justice and transparency.
“If we allow this, we accept a system that ignores merit and institutional integrity. We will continue this protest with our members, parents and supporters until the order is canceled,” Rochill said.
NMSA has undertook to continue peace demonstrations and is considering legal escalation. The leaders emphasized that they exercise their democratic rights and will not rely until the standards of fair recruitment are observed.
During the protest, they held banners and signs demanding justice, while shouting the slogans looking for free, fair and equal opportunities to all aspiring candidates through competing examinations.
The department officials could not be contacted for their comments on the matter.
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Published – August 30, 2025 9:01
