Political backlash grows over NMC withdrawal of MBBS permission to Vaishno Devi Medical College
Srinagar: The National Medical Commission's withdrawal of MBBS permission for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence has triggered sharp political backlash in Jammu and Kashmir.
The ruling National Conference and opposition PDP accused the BJP-led Centre of playing divisive politics and jeopardising students’ futures, calling the move discriminatory and damaging to social harmony. Apni Party leaders also questioned the NMC’s sudden reversal after earlier granting approval, citing uncertainty faced by students. While NMC cited deficiencies in infrastructure and faculty, the BJP and groups opposing the admissions welcomed the derecognition.
According to recent UNI report, the cancellation of recognition of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) amid a row over the admission of 42 Muslim students for 50 MBBS seats, has sparked sharp political reactions in Jammu and Kashmir, with both ruing National Conference and Opposition Peoples Democratic Party slamming the BJP-led central government.
NMC recently withdrew the Letter of Permission (LoP) granted to SMVDIME, Reasi, for running the MBBS course with 50 seats for academic year 2025-26, for failure to meet essential standards.
The ruling National Conference termed the cancellation “a cruel betrayal by BJP with the youth of J&K.”
Also Read:JnK CM slams NMC move to revoke MBBS permission to Vaishno Devi medical college
Party's State Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said, “This is perhaps the first instance in independent India where a communally divisive party is celebrating the de-recognition of a medical college. This is dystopia in practice and a tragic moment for the people of Jammu,” he said.
Imran alleged that the decision is neither accidental nor technical but a direct outcome of criminal negligence and a deeply flawed administrative and communal mindset.
“Despite having complete control at the Centre and in the union Territory, the BJP failed to ensure even basic compliance with mandatory Medical Council norms. The sudden emergence of such discrepancies raises serious questions and exposes this move as a smokescreen to hide the BJP’s divisive agenda,” he added.
Peoples Democratic Party leader and MLA Waheed Parra termed the cancellation as an unfortunate decision asserting that it sends the wrong message and deepens social divide.
He said the cancellation of the institution’s registration over the issue of admissions on religious lines “sends a very negative message” not only in Jammu and Kashmir but across India, particularly among minorities.
Former Cabinet Minister and Apni Party senior vice president Ghulam Hassan Mir also expressed serious concern over the NMC decision.
“The National Medical Commission must answer an important question—why was SMVDIME earlier declared eligible to function as a medical college, and why has it now been found ineligible, in a year's time? Who will take responsibility for the suffering of the students who are now facing uncertainty?” he asked.
He further said that the authorities of SMVDIME must also be held accountable for the situation.
The BJP and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti that spearheaded agitation for cancelling the admission of Muslim students, have reportedly welcomed the SMVDMC derecognition, adds UNI
Also Read:Protests intensify over MBBS admissions at Vaishno Devi medical college
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 right-wing Hindu groups which later led to the formation of the Sangarsh Samiti and its leaders have already held talks with Lt Governor and leaders of the central government including Union health minister.
Tensions further rose over the MBBS admissions row 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.
During the earlier hunger strike call, the Protesters alleged imbalance in representation, claims that have been rejected by academic sources and student bodies, who maintain that the process is religion-neutral and fully merit-driven. Legal experts warned that cancelling merit-based admissions would violate constitutional principles and undermine the integrity of competitive examinations. Authorities are monitoring the situation, stating that admissions made under established rules cannot be annulled without valid legal grounds.
Amid all this, the National Medical Commission's Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) has withdrawn the letter of permission granted to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi for non-compliance with minimum standards.
Meanwhile, despite the NMC's claims of non-compliance, faculty members, speaking on the condition of anonymity, defended the institution as one of the best in the Union territory.
