JnK BOPEE cancels 6 provisional MBBS admissions under PwD category

The Board issued separate notifications, cancelling the provisional selections of five candidates at Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara and one candidate at GMC Doda. The decisions followed reports from medical boards at Government SMHS Hospital, Srinagar, GMC Jammu and Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar.

The six candidates had been provisionally selected under the PwD category for MBBS admission. The decision, issued through five separate notifications, followed assessments by the Standing Medical Board at Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, through its associated SMHS Hospital.

The Board withdrew the candidates' selections after the medical panel found that their disabilities either fell below the prescribed threshold or did not qualify under the relevant criteria.

According to the notifications, all six candidates had been provisionally selected during the first round of online MBBS/BDS counselling, the selection list for which was issued on August 24, 2026.

The Board had directed the respective medical colleges to refer candidates provisionally selected under the PwD category to special medical boards for verification of their eligibility. Following these assessments, the five candidates were found ineligible for admission under the category.

In four separate notifications, BOPEE cancelled the provisional selections of candidates allotted MBBS seats at GMC Handwara after reviewing the findings of the Standing Medical Board of Government SMHS Hospital, Srinagar.

The medical board submitted its report on November 7, 2026, which GMC Handwara forwarded to BOPEE on November 9 for further action.

In one case, the medical board examined a candidate with epilepsy who was receiving treatment with a single anti-seizure medication. After reviewing the available medical records and conducting an examination, the board concluded that the candidate did not qualify for benchmark disability certification.

In another case, the medical assessment recorded approximately 28% hearing disability, 20% disability based on an oral medicine and radiology examination, and 0% visual disability. The candidate was consequently found ineligible for the PwD category.

A third candidate underwent a mental status and neurological assessment. The medical board reported that the candidate did not have major psychopathology at the time of examination, although occasional sleep disturbances were noted. The board concluded that the candidate did not qualify for benchmark disability from the epilepsy perspective.

In the fourth case, an orthopaedic assessment conducted at Bone and Joint Hospital, Barzulla, found that the candidate's medical examination was within normal limits, with residual physical impairment estimated at approximately 10%.

In the fifth case, the medical board referred to an ophthalmological examination conducted at GMC Srinagar, which assessed the candidate's visual disability at 0%. Consequently, the candidate was also found ineligible for admission under the PwD category.

Based on these findings, BOPEE cancelled the five provisional selections at GMC Handwara.

The sixth case concerned a candidate provisionally selected for MBBS admission at GMC Doda under the PwD category.

According to the notification, the candidate's visual disability was reassessed at 30% by the medical board at GMC Jammu.

Following the assessment, the candidate requested an independent reassessment and subsequently approached the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh through a writ petition.

The matter was referred to SKIMS Srinagar, where a medical board constituted for the purpose reassessed the candidate's visual disability and again reported it at 30%.

The reassessment report was submitted to the High Court in a sealed cover. The Court disposed of the petition on November 2, 2026, allowing BOPEE to finalise the filling of seats while considering the inter-se merit of candidates under the PwD category.

Following the Court's decision and the medical findings, BOPEE cancelled the candidate's provisional selection at GMC Doda, stating that the candidate did not qualify for benchmark disability.

In its notifications concerning the GMC Handwara candidates, BOPEE referred to Section 2(r) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which defines a person with benchmark disability with reference to a minimum of 40% specified disability where the disability is not defined in measurable terms, or as otherwise certified under the applicable provisions.

The Board also cited the National Medical Commission's guidelines dated September 16, 2026, concerning the assessment of persons with benchmark disabilities, including functional disability and eligibility for reservation.

Further, BOPEE referred to Regulations 8(II) and 8(IV) of the J&K BOPEE Regulations, 2016, concerning cancellation of provisional selection and conversion to open merit.

The Board stated that the provisional selections were cancelled ab initio, meaning that the selections were treated as invalid from the outset.

Apart from cancelling the four GMC Handwara selections, BOPEE forwarded recommendations to the J&K Health and Medical Education Department seeking action under Section 91 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

The Board recommended that action be initiated against the concerned candidates and that their disability certificates be cancelled in accordance with the applicable Act and Rules through the concerned Chief Medical Officer, who was identified as the issuing authority.

These were recommendations for further action, and the notifications do not establish that such proceedings have been completed or that the certificates have already been cancelled.

However, the notifications do not establish that proceedings have already been initiated or that the disability certificates have been cancelled.

The separate GMC Doda notification records the cancellation of provisional selection following the medical reassessments and High Court proceedings.

To view the notifications, click the link below