NIDA urges Nagaland Cabinet to revoke on-hold order, citing court rulings supporting regularisation of Covid-appointed doctors in state.
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DIMAPUR — The Nagaland In-service Doctors Association (NIDA) has urged the state Cabinet to withdraw the “on hold” order on the regularisation of Covid-19 doctors, stating that the Special Recruitment Drive (SRD) was legally upheld by the Gauhati High Court and the doctors have already joined service.
In a press release, the association said it was “appalling” that the regularisation has been kept pending following a Cabinet notice and constitution of a High Power Committee after an ultimatum by the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF).
According to NIDA, doctors appointed during the pandemic were recruited through open advertisement and selection based on merit, experience and interviews, and, therefore, are “not backdoor appointees” and cannot be compared with alleged irregular cases.
The association maintained that the appointment and SRD for regularisation were not violative of constitutional principles, particularly Articles 14 and 16, and were ratified after legal scrutiny.
Related: Supreme Court clears regularisation of 97 Covid-era medical officers in Nagaland
It stated that exigency posts of medical officers were created during the pandemic to manage the health crisis and did not encroach on regular vacancies arising annually through retirement.
“Of the total 511 sanctioned post of doctors, including the Covid created posts in the Health department, 396 post are filled which is inclusive of Covid appointee doctors, 30 post are currently under NPSC recruitment process, while 85 post still lie vacant,” it stated.
Recalling the pandemic period, NIDA said that the state faced an unprecedented health emergency and manpower strain. It added that many young Naga doctors employed in reputed institutions outside the state left their jobs and returned following a distress call from the Health and Family Welfare department.
The association described the group as an “invaluable asset” possessing experience gained during the crisis and said that they made personal sacrifices in their careers while serving the people of Nagaland.
The association outlined that recruitment during the pandemic was conducted under extraordinary circumstances when normal NPSC recruitment was not feasible. The government subsequently extended services and assured an SRD for their service.
It pointed out that when the SRD was challenged, the High Court had observed twice that the process did not suffer from arbitrariness or discrimination and directed the state to proceed with regularisation. NIDA further stated that the Supreme Court, while admitting a Special Leave Petition, clarified it would not affect appointments already made.
It expressed surprise at protests against what it described as a legally sanctioned procedure and said the Cabinet decision to keep the order on hold and constitute an HPC undermines the High Court judgements and shifts constitutional administrative authority away from the government.
“No one is above the law and kangaroo courts on the streets should not overrule the constitutional courts of law,” it maintained.
The association urged the Cabinet to withdraw the clause so members can continue service delivery without obstruction, stating ambiguity has created confusion in lower administrative offices. It also expressed hope that the NSF will exercise wisdom to understand the issue in its entirety and context of the pandemic, and not interpret the SRD and regularisation out of its context.
Affirming its commitment to the welfare of its members, NIDA warned that if the situation leads to further humiliation, it may take democratic measures, including convening an emergency general body meeting, details of which will be announced later.