Doctors' body seeks President's intervention over NMC MBBS permission withdrawal at Vaishno Devi medical college
Ludhiana: The National Medical Commission's recent decision to withdraw permission for the MBBS course at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra is facing backlash.
Members of the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) are now seeking Prime Minister Droupadi Murmu's immediate intervention to reverse the Apex Medical Commission's "arbitrary, unjust and deeply troubling" decision.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that controversy erupted across Jammu following admission of 42 Muslim students out of a total of 50 students in the first batch to the medical college. Dozens of protesters gathered earlier outside Lok Bhavan and set ablaze an effigy of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, demanding revocation of the MBBS admission list.
The protests were started by groups, which later led to the formation of the Sangarsh Samiti, and its leaders held talks with Lt Governor and leaders of the central government, including Union Health Minister.
Tensions further rose over the MBBS admissions with protestors planning to step up agitation. At a core committee meeting in Srinagar, Samiti leaders, along with representatives of the Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha, alleged that the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board acted unfairly and deviated from its mandate. They accused the Board of misusing shrine funds over the past two decades for infrastructure projects such as hospitals and universities instead of promoting Sanatan Dharma–related activities.
Earlier, BJP Udhampur MLA has supported the protests, backed by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. They had reasoned that since Vaishno Devi Medical College is an institute set up with the donations offered to the Vaishno Devi shrine, 'it should not be dominated by the members of the Muslim community'. They had also demanded reservations of the seats at the medical college for Hindus. However, since Vaishnodevi Medical College is not classified as a minority institution, it is not possible to reserve these seats for Hindus under the current rules.
Also Read: Protests erupt over MBBS admissions at Vaishno Devi Medical College
Amid all this, the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) cited a failure to meet "minimum standards" following a surprise inspection on January 2. Faculty and students alleged that the decision was fuelled by local political pressure rather than academic deficiencies.
The order issued by the MARB said that all students admitted to the college during the counselling for the 2025-26 academic year shall be accommodated in other medical institutions in Jammu and Kashmir as supernumerary seats by the competent authority of the UT administration.
While NMC cited inadequate infrastructure as the reason for withdrawing permission, faculty members at the institute told PTI on the condition of anonymity that the institute is one of the best in the Union Territory. They further added that the NMC findings can be contested point-by-point and "everyone knows what led to the inspection and the subsequent decision, especially in view of the unrest created in the Jammu region".
Criticising the NMC decision to shut down the medical college at Katra, the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) said that "This decision is arbitrary, unjust, and deeply troubling, and it strikes at the very foundations of merit, constitutional values, and institutional autonomy."
"The medical college at Katra was granted permission last year to admit 50 students, and admissions were carried out strictly on the basis of merit, following all existing rules and procedures. Out of these 50 students, 42 students admitted on merit belonged to the Muslim community. This fact, and this fact alone, appears to have triggered a politically motivated agitation by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, who have openly argued that since the college is run by the Mata Vaishno Devi Trust, admissions should be restricted to students from the Hindu community," the doctors' body further mentioned in a recent release.
Terming this argument as "unconstitutional, discriminatory, and legally untenable", IDPD added that the Katra Medical College does not enjoy minority status, and therefore any agitation or demand based on religious exclusion is illegal and violative of the Constitution of India.
"Admissions based on merit, irrespective of religion, caste, or creed, are the cornerstone of a democratic and secular education system," it highlighted.
Addressing NMC's role in the whole issue, the release further added, "The National Medical Commission is a constitutional, autonomous regulatory body, expected to function independently, guided by law, ethics, and public interest. Its apparent succumbing to sectarian and political pressure in this matter is extremely unfortunate and raises serious questions about the erosion of institutional autonomy. Such capitulation sets a dangerous precedent and may have grave long-term repercussions for medical education, social harmony, and the rule of law across the country."
As per the association, by closing the medical college, NMC has not only punished students who were admitted fairly and lawfully, but has also sent a chilling message that merit can be overridden by communal considerations. "This is unacceptable in a constitutional democracy," it said.
Demanding that the decision to close the medical college gets immediately revoked and the college is allowed to function without discrimination or political interference, IDPD added, "IDPD also makes an earnest and urgent appeal to Madam Droupadi Murmu, the Hon’ble President of India, to intervene without delay, uphold constitutional morality, protect the rights of students, and ensure that the medical college at Katra is reopened and allowed to operate in accordance with law. Education cannot be communalised. Merit cannot be punished. Constitutional institutions must not surrender to sectarian pressure."
Speaking to Medical Dialogues, the President of IDPD, Dr. Arun Mitra pointed out that since the college did not take a minority status, "any student could come based on merit."
"It is very unfair that it is being done in medical education. Where do these students go? Their career is now in a big crisis. Putting them under so much stress is really unfair," he added.
Also Read: NMC withdraws MBBS permission to Vaishno Devi Medical college
