In a major development in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Medical Commission (NMC) on Tuesday withdrew the Letter of Permission (LoP) granted to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Reasi for running the MBBS course for the academic year 2025–26. The decision comes in the wake of complaints regarding the college’s infrastructure and faculty, as well as a heated controversy over the admission of Muslim students.

The institute had initially received permission from the NMC’s Medical Assessment & Rating Board (MARB) after following standard procedures, including scrutiny of submitted documents and a physical inspection by expert assessors. The MBBS course had been approved for 50 students, and admissions had been made accordingly. However, over the past two weeks, the NMC received multiple complaints alleging serious deficiencies in the institution, including inadequate infrastructure, insufficient clinical material, shortage of full-time qualified teaching staff, and an inadequate number of resident doctors.

“In light of the complaints, the MARB conducted a surprise physical inspection, and the assessment report established that the deficiencies were true, gross, and substantial in nature,” the NMC stated in an official communication. The commission observed that continuation of the institution under such circumstances would have seriously jeopardised the quality of medical education and adversely affected the academic interests of students.

Students to Be Reallocated

The NMC has authorised the state and Union Territory authorities to accommodate the students already admitted to the medical college in other medical institutions within the territory as supernumerary seats, in accordance with applicable norms. This move aims to ensure that the academic interests of the students for the year 2025–26 are safeguarded.

While the withdrawal of approval was officially justified on academic and infrastructural grounds, the decision comes amid a heated local controversy surrounding the composition of the first batch of students at the college. Of the 50 students admitted to the maiden MBBS course, 46 were Muslim. This sparked protests from locals and various Hindu organisations who argued that preference should be given to Hindu candidates, citing that the college was primarily funded and established through donations from devotees of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah weighed in on the controversy, urging the central government and the Union Health Ministry to reallocate the students to other colleges. “The children passed exams and secured seats on their hard work. None did any favour to them. If you don’t want them there, then adjust them somewhere else,” Abdullah said.

The Chief Minister further expressed concern that students themselves might not wish to continue in the politically charged environment at the college. “In the given scenario, I don’t feel that students themselves would like to study there. We request the Government of India and the Health Ministry to adjust these children in other colleges. Had I been a parent of these students, I wouldn’t have sent them. We wouldn’t want them to study where there’s so much politics,” he stated. Abdullah urged authorities to close the medical college and move the students to other institutions where they can pursue their education without interference or communal tension.

Political Undertones

The controversy has been inflamed by political narratives in the region. Hindu groups demanded reservation for Hindu students in the college, citing that the shrine’s donations were meant to benefit the local Hindu population. Meanwhile, Abdullah directly criticised the BJP, accusing the party of indulging in communal politics in education, sports, and food habits.

Abdullah also responded to BJP senior leader and MLA Sham Lal Sharma’s demand for making Jammu a separate state, commenting sarcastically on the issue. “They have already ruined Ladakh by separating it from J&K. Now, if they want to make Jammu a separate state, then who is stopping them. They should have done it in 2019 itself when they were doing all this [revocation of Article 370 and bifurcation of J&K],” the Chief Minister said.

Background of NMC Approval Process

The college had received approval following the MARB’s public notices dated December 5, 2024, and December 19, 2024, inviting applications for new medical colleges for the 2025–26 academic year. After processing multiple applications, the NMC had granted the LoP to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, following due diligence that included document scrutiny and physical inspections. The college then admitted its first batch of MBBS students.

However, the multiple complaints received in the weeks following admission prompted a surprise re-inspection by the MARB. The findings confirmed substantial deficiencies in infrastructure and faculty availability, leading to the commission’s decision to withdraw the LoP.

Impact on Students and Administration

The NMC’s decision underscores the commission’s commitment to ensuring that medical education meets prescribed standards. To mitigate disruption, the commission has empowered the state and UT authorities to transfer students to other medical institutions, ensuring that their academic progression is not hindered.

This reallocation process will see the affected students admitted as supernumerary seats in other medical colleges within the Union Territory, preserving their eligibility and maintaining the continuity of their MBBS education. Officials have indicated that arrangements are being made swiftly to avoid delays in the academic calendar.

Reactions from the Local Community

The withdrawal of MBBS approval has sparked varied reactions in the community. Hindu groups have expressed satisfaction with the closure, aligning with their earlier demand for prioritisation of Hindu students. Muslim community leaders, while concerned about the disruption in the education of the admitted students, have welcomed the reallocation plan as a means to safeguard the academic interests of their children.

Meanwhile, political commentators have observed that the controversy highlights the intersection of education, communal tensions, and governance in the region. The rapid escalation of the issue reflects the sensitivities surrounding admissions to institutions established with religious or community-linked funding.

Conclusion

The NMC’s withdrawal of MBBS permission to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence serves as a reminder of the rigorous standards expected of medical institutions in India. While the commission cited gross deficiencies in infrastructure and faculty as the primary reason, the episode also exposed underlying communal tensions surrounding educational opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir.

With the students set to be accommodated in other medical colleges as supernumerary seats, the immediate focus now shifts to ensuring a smooth transition and continuation of their education. Authorities have assured that the reallocation process will adhere to all applicable norms, aiming to protect the academic interests of the students and maintain public confidence in the integrity of medical education in the region.

The decision also serves as a signal to institutions and local authorities that compliance with regulatory standards and equitable admissions practices are non-negotiable, and that lapses can lead to stringent action by national regulatory bodies.