Nagaland: SC upholds regularisation of 97 medical officers

Supreme Court of India has upheld the regularisation of 97 medical officers who were engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On January 16, 2026, the Supreme Court heard Special Leave Petition (Civil) arising from the final judgment and order dated December 11, 2025, passed by the Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench. The Apex Court observed that “the present claim of the petitioners will have no bearing on the appointments already made by the State”.
In a press release, Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) principal director Dr. Mereninla Senlem stated the current claim of the petitioners would, thus, not impact the appointments already made by the State and the regularization of 97 medical officers who were engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic would stand.
SLP was filed by three appellants from Writ Appeal No. 32 of 2025, challenging the Gauhati High Court’s dismissal of their appeal against the Single Judge’s common judgment dated August 1, 2025, in WP(C) No. 239 of 2024 and WP(C) No. 187 of 2024.
The High Court had permitted the State Government to proceed with regularization under the Special Recruitment Drive.
Health & Family Welfare department regularized 97 medical officers based on approval by the State Cabinet vide No. CAB-1/14/2023 dated August 7, 2024, and following judgment passed by the Gauhati High Court dated December 11, 2025.