Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College Students Face Uncertainty as Fresh Counselling is Ruled Out

The Jammu and Kashmir Board has announced it cannot conduct fresh counselling for MBBS admissions at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College, leaving students in limbo. This follows the National Medical Commission's withdrawal of permission due to non-compliance with standards.

The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) has stated it cannot organise new counselling sessions for MBBS admissions. The allocation of supernumerary seats for students previously admitted to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) should be handled at the government level. This clarification was made in a letter to the Union territory's health and medical education department.

Earlier this month, the National Medical Commission's Medical Assessment and Rating Board revoked SMVDIME's permission due to non-compliance with standards. It suggested that students admitted during counselling should be placed in other Jammu and Kashmir institutions as supernumerary seats. The Sangharsh Samiti, a coalition of right-wing groups supported by the BJP, has been protesting since last November. They demand the cancellation of SMVDIME admissions and reservation of seats for those who follow Mata Vaishno Devi.

BOPEE's Position on Counselling

In a letter to the health department, BOPEE explained its constraints regarding new counselling for 2025-26. It stated it cannot exceed the schedule set by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), MoHFW, New Delhi. The data for 1,410 MBBS candidates, including 50 from SMVDIME, was updated on MCC's portal by December 31, 2025.

BOPEE emphasised that creating and allocating supernumerary seats is beyond its jurisdiction. Therefore, reallocating these seats should involve the government, National Medical Commission, and relevant medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir. This decision affects the inaugural batch of 50 students at SMVDIME, which included 42 Muslims from Kashmir, seven Hindus from Jammu, and one Sikh student.

Government's Assurance

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured that these students' education would not be disrupted. "It is our legal responsibility to accommodate them," he said. The government plans to create supernumerary seats in nearby colleges to ensure their studies continue without interruption.

The situation has sparked demands for cancelling admissions and reserving all seats for Hindu students due to the religious composition of SMVDIME's initial batch. The ongoing agitation highlights tensions surrounding educational opportunities and religious representation in the region.

The resolution of this issue requires collaboration between government bodies and educational institutions to ensure fair treatment for all affected students while addressing community concerns.

With inputs from PTI