Nagaland medical students suspend protest amid court stay on regularisation

Kohima: The Nagaland Medical Students' Association (NMSA) has announced the suspension of its protest against the regularisation process of 280 health workers appointed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision follows the issuance of an interim directive by the Gauhati High Court's Kohima Bench, which has put the regularisation process on hold. According to the PTI report, the HC stayed the state cabinet decision of August 6, 2024, and the subsequent notification issued by the Health Department on August 18, 2025. It directed that no further steps be taken by the state government towards regularisation on the basis of the said decision and notification until further orders. The process under scrutiny involved the regularisation of various categories of 280 posts created during the COVID-19 pandemic through a Departmental Screening Committee. Also Read:Medical Council raises alarm over doctor registration issues, NPA misuse, negligence, ethical violations In a notification issued on Thursday, the department said the process has been kept in abeyance until further orders. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that, alleging that all recruitment should be merit-based and conducted through open competitive examinations, several medical students in Nagaland on Saturday staged a protest opposing the state government’s move to regularise 280 contractual health workers who were appointed during COVID-19 without conducting competitive examinations. While the government clarified that the move was in line with a high court ruling, the students announced they would continue their peaceful protest until the decision is revoked. In response, the Nagaland Medical Students' Association (NMSA) called off its agitation, which started on Saturday against the regularisation of 280 contractual appointees, including 122 class-I gazetted posts -- 98 MBBS medical officers/ junior specialists, 21 AYUSH medical officers and three junior dental surgeons. NMSA said its decision was taken in view of the matter being sub judice, with the high court already issuing a stay order. "We hold the judiciary in the highest regard and express faith that the court will deliver a fair and just verdict in the interest of all stakeholders," the association stated, reports PTI. NMSA said it remains committed to meritocracy and to ensuring fair and equal opportunities in public recruitment for all aspirants and medical professionals. Also Read:Nagaland Governor reviews TB Elimination programme, calls for community involvement