Supreme Court of India. (IANS Photo)
DIMAPUR, JANUARY 19 (MExN): The Supreme Court of India has upheld the regularisation of 97 medical officers engaged by the Nagaland government during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that pending claims by petitioners will not affect appointments already made by the State.
According to a press release issued by Dr Mereninla Senlem, Principal Director, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland; the Supreme Court, on January 16, 2026, heard Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 1480 of 2026 arising out of the final judgment and order dated December 11, 2025, passed in WA No. 32 of 2025 by the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court.
The apex court ordered that “the present claim of the petitioners will have no bearing on the appointments already made by the State”. As a result, the appointments already made by the State will remain unaffected and the regularisation of the 97 medical officers engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic will stand, the department stated.
The Special Leave Petition was filed by three appellants of Writ Appeal No. 32 of 2025 before the Supreme Court following the judgment and order dated December 11, 2025, of the Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench. The High Court had dismissed Appeal Case No. WA/25/2025 and the linked case No. WA/32/2025, which challenged a common judgment and order dated August 1, 2025, passed by a Single Judge in WP(C) No. 239 of 2024 and WP(C) No. 187 of 2024.
The writ petitions had challenged the State government’s move to proceed with the regularisation of medical officers under the Special Recruitment Drive. The Division Bench had permitted the State government to proceed with the regularisation if it had not already been completed.
The Department of Health and Family Welfare stated that it has regularised the services of 97 medical officers who were engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to serve. The regularisation was carried out based on approval accorded by the State Cabinet vide No. CAB-1/14/2023 dated August 7, 2024, and the judgment passed by the Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, in WA/25/2025 on December 11, 2025.
