NSF slams Cab decision to revoke order on Covid-era doctors

Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has voiced strong resentment and shock over the Nagaland Cabinet’s decision on March 12, 2026, to revoke its earlier order that kept in abeyance the regularisation of doctors appointed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Addressing the media here today, NSF president Mteisuding Heraang stated that the federation, which has always championed meritocracy, transparency, and fairness in governance, was taken aback by the sudden reversal. He recalled that the NSF had initially welcomed the formation of a High-Powered Committee (HPC) as a constructive step toward dialogue and resolution of the contentious issue.
“Without any consultation, the entire order was revoked by the Cabinet on March 12. It is really shocking,” Mteisuding said. He questioned how such a unilateral decision could be taken while discussions through the HPC framework were still anticipated and ongoing. NSF president emphasised that meaningful dialogue cannot progress without mutual consultation or a “ceasefire” on the matter between the state government and the federation.
He made it clear that NSF would not be in a position to engage further unless the regularisation process was kept in abeyance and discussions were conducted in a fully transparent manner. According to minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on February 26, 2026, which reviewed the post-Covid creation and regularisation of doctors under the health & family welfare department, the Advocate General of Nagaland informed the Cabinet that the government could not override court orders. Advocate General reportedly cautioned that the earlier decision on February 3, 2026, to place the regularisation order on hold amounted to contempt of court.
Following detailed deliberations, the Cabinet resolved to revoke its previous decision to keep the regularisation on hold and restore the process for regularising the doctors appointed during the Covid-19 period.
The Cabinet also decided to reconstitute the High-Powered Committee, now under the chairmanship of the Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs.
The reconstituted HPC includes ministers– Health & Family Welfare, Rural Development, Housing & Mechanical; advisor Water Resources, and MLA Achumbemo Kikon as members. The committee is tasked with briefing the NSF on the matter, taking into account the judgments delivered by the High Court and the Supreme Court.