JAMMU – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday ordered the immediate relocation of students from Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College in Reasi. This directive followed the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) withdrawal of the college’s permission due to non-compliance with minimum standards.
College Permission Revoked
MARB confirmed the revocation of the letter of permission for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence. This decision affects all students admitted for the academic year 2025-26. These students will transfer to other medical institutions within Jammu and Kashmir. The Union Territory administration will accommodate them as supernumerary seats.
Political Agitation Precedes Decision
The MARB order came amidst an agitation by the Sangharsh Samiti. This recently formed conglomerate of right-wing organizations, supported by the BJP, demanded the cancellation of admissions. The Samiti also sought exclusive reservation of seats for students professing faith in Mata Vaishno Devi.
Admission Composition Fuels Controversy
The outfit emerged after admissions for the inaugural MBBS batch of 50 students concluded via the NEET merit list. Of these, 42 students were Muslim, primarily from Kashmir. Seven Hindu students from Jammu and one Sikh student completed the batch. This composition drew strong objections from the right-wing groups.
Chief Minister’s Directive and Condemnation
Chief Minister Abdullah directed Health Minister Sakina Itoo to ensure swift placement of affected students into government medical colleges near their hometowns. He emphasized expediting the process for students to continue their medical education. Abdullah also strongly criticized the celebrations by right-wing outfits over the college’s shutdown.
Abdullah stated, “What is this happiness about? People across the country fight for medical colleges. Here, a struggle led to the shutdown of a medical college, jeopardizing the future of J&K children.”
Future Impact on Medical Education
Abdullah warned about the long-term consequences of the closure. He highlighted that while 40 of the initial 50 seats went to Kashmir, the college could have expanded to 400 seats within a few years. “Out of those 400 seats, possibly 200 or 250 children would have been from Jammu. Tomorrow, those children will not get medical college seats because you got the entire college shut down in the name of religion,” he added. He urged people to remember the Sangharsh Samiti for their actions.