Kohima, September 4 (MExN): The Department of Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) has issued a clarification on the Special Recruitment Drive (SRD) for COVID-19 appointees, asserting that the process was not a case of backdoor appointments.
“There is a misconception that the COVID recruitment was a backdoor appointment. By definition, backdoor appointments occur when hiring bypasses standard procedures, lacks advertisement, and is influenced by favoritism or nepotism. In contrast, the COVID Special Recruitment was: Approved by the Cabinet, Publicly advertised, Conducted with meticulous scrutiny of documents and eligibility, Interviewed by qualified and competent officers,” the department stated.
It maintained that there was “no violation of meritocracy, no lack of transparency, and no political interference.” The department explained that the usual multi-month process of written exams and viva voce was not possible due to COVID-19 restrictions, and the urgency of the crisis required expedited recruitment. Many qualified candidates declined to join because of the risks involved, it added.
It also noted that the recruitment was carried out under the Epidemic Act to ensure essential health services. “If the government is empowered to ensure essential services, it is also morally bound to provide adequate manpower to sustain those services,” it said.
Recalling the context of the appointments, the department highlighted the strain on Nagaland’s healthcare system during the pandemic. “The covid pandemic created a fear psychosis of unprecedented proportions in living memory. Stigmatization of the covid frontline workers was a stark reality at that time—those living in rented houses were asked to vacate by their landlords, entry to colonies were restricted for them, Health care workers were ordered not to go beyond their work places etc. It was under such circumstances that the healthcare workers still kept working,” it said.
Healthcare workers, it added, risked their lives, often unsure if they would return home alive. “Many Health care Workers contracted covid in their line of duty, and some still suffer the consequences of it till today,” it said. The department pointed out that even retired doctors were recalled to service, interns and clinical MBBS students were requested to assist, while many others chose not to respond to the government’s call.
The department said those who did serve were given an assurance of special consideration through the SRD. “Ordinary professionals were called to perform extraordinary tasks, risking their lives and sacrificing the comforts of home,” it noted, adding that even though some later resigned to pursue studies, many continued to serve the state and its people.
On the role of the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC), the department stated that the Commission expressed its inability to conduct exams with special provisions for SRD and referred the recruitment back to the Medical Department. An attempt to conduct the SRD was stayed by the High Court on October 21, 2024. Following a new directive from the Court on August 1, 2025, the department proceeded, but the process was then protested by the Nagaland Medical Students’ Association (NMSA).
Clarifying further, it said that the COVID contractual posts were created specifically to address the shortage of doctors during the pandemic and were not meant for those still in medical colleges or those who did not respond at the time. The SRD, it stressed, does not deprive other aspirants of opportunities through regular NPSC recruitment, as vacancies continue to arise from retirements.
Out of a total cadre strength of 511, including 120 posts created during the pandemic, the department reported that there are 303 regular doctors, 98 COVID-19 appointees, and 30 posts under recruitment through NPSC. Even after regularization of COVID-19 appointees, 80 posts would remain available for recruitment through NPSC. From 2016 to 2024, 99 posts have been recruited through NPSC. MBBS intake capacity, it added, increased from 65 to 150 after the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR) became functional in 2023.
