Protests held across Jammu amid row over MBBS admissions at Vaishno Devi Medical College
Jammu: Protests were held recently across Jammu demanding the scrapping of MBBS admissions at Vaishno Devi Medical College and reservation of seats.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that The protest followed the selection of 42 Muslims, mostly from Kashmir, one Sikh and seven Hindu candidates through the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) against the sanctioned 50 MBBS seats for the 2025–26 academic session.
The medical college, built on 34 acres of land owned by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, was granted permission by the National Medical Commission on September 8 to commence admissions for the session.
Later, National Medical Commission (NMC) rejected the proposal received from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), Katra, seeking to place 100 percent of its MBBS seats under the All India Quota (AIQ) to be filled through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC).
The institute's request to NMC came amid the ongoing controversy concerning the MBBS admission process at Katra-based Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Institute of Medical Excellence. In the Jammu region, protests were launched against the revelation that 90% of the students admitted to the medical college are Muslim students belonging to Kashmir.
After the J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) released a list of 50 candidates for the Vaishnodevi Institute of Medical Excellence, it came to light that among these 50 candidates, 42 hail from the Kashmir region, while eight students hail from Jammu. Already 36 candidates from Kashmir and three candidates from Jammu have taken admission.
For over a fortnight, dozens of protests have been held by several organisations in Jammu and other places against the grant of a majority of MBBS seats to Muslim students, mostly from Kashmir, through the NEET merit list last month in the Shri Vaishno Devi Medical College in Reasi district.
Now, according to a recent PTI report, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti (SMVSS) on Wednesday held protests across Jammu demanding the scrapping of admissions of Muslim students to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College and reservation of seats for Hindu students on the lines of Muslim and Sikh institutions.
The protesters have been demanding a probe, alleging a major conspiracy against the educational institution. The protests by the SMVSS and other organisations were held in Jammu, Kathua, Reasi, Katra, Rajouri, Samba, Ramban, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Bhaderwah and Doda.
In Kathua, the protesters burnt an effigy of the government and raised slogans against it. In Jammu, protests were held by the SMVSS, the Jammu Bar Association and other organisations at dozens of locations.
"Approximately 40,000 to 50,000 people recorded their presence at more than 40 locations across the division, expressing deep resentment against the shrine board and the government," SMVSS convener Colonel Sukhvir Singh Mankotia said.
He said the SMVSS will not rest until this "unjust decision" is overturned. The row erupted after the medical college completed admissions through the NEET merit list last month. Of the inaugural MBBS batch of 50, 42 Muslim candidates, seven Hindu students from Jammu and one Sikh were selected.
