Srinagar: The Congress has criticised the National Medical Commission (NMC) decision to withdraw permission for the MBBS course at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Jammu and Kashmir, calling for the college to be allowed to resume admissions after corrective steps.
The NMC cited deficiencies in faculty, infrastructure and clinical facilities for revoking approval.
Congress leaders questioned the timing of the inspection and the withdrawal, noting that admissions were conducted through NEET and approval had been granted only months earlier. They urged clarity on whether the shortcomings could have been addressed without cancelling the course, citing the impact on students.
According to a recent PTI report, the Congress on Saturday accused the BJP-led government of indulging in ''communalisation of education'' following the withdrawal of permission for MBBS course at Vaishno Devi Medical College and demanded that the college be reopened.
Medical Dialogues reported earlier this month that the National Medical Commission (NMC) revoked the Letter of Permission to J-K's Katra-based college, citing non-compliance with minimum standards and extensive deficiencies in faculty strength, clinical material and infrastructure.
The order followed an agitation by the Sangharsh Samiti, a recently-formed conglomerate of right-wing outfits backed by the BJP, demanding cancellation of admissions to the medical college and seeking reservation of seats exclusively for students professing faith in Mata Vaishno Devi.
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"Admissions to students at the Vaishno Devi Medical College in Jammu-Kashmir were done based on NEET. The number of Muslim students in the final admission list was higher in the admission list; 42 out of 50 students were Muslim. This happened because the Muslim community has a larger population in that area. During counselling, most children chose colleges in their own region so they could stay close to home," Congress general secretary in-charge Jammu and Kashmir Syed Naseer Hussain said at a press conference here along with J&K AICC Secretary Divvya Madernna.
The National Medical Commission cancelled the permission for this college altogether, he said. "In such a situation, the question arises -- wasn't a proper inspection done before granting a license to this college? Weren't all the rules followed before granting the license? Let us tell you that there are many such examples in Hindustan, where a large number of children from other communities also study in Muslim or Christian colleges," Hussain said.
Posing questions to the government, Hussain asked why a sudden inspection was conducted at Vaishno Devi Medical College, who complained about it and whether action was taken against the college due to the pressure being issued in the public domain.
"Were the circumstances so serious that the entire medical college had to be shut down. Was no information taken about the examination system? In September 2025, permission was granted to the medical college for the MBBS course, so was no inspection related to infrastructure conducted before that?" he said.
Also Read:Political backlash grows over NMC withdrawal of MBBS permission to Vaishno Devi Medical College
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