- By Chetna Shree
- Wed, 07 Jan 2026 01:34 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Vaishno Devi Medical College Row: A major controversy over infrastructure deficiencies and the admission of 42 Muslim students out of a total of 50 in the inaugural MBBS batch at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) has led to the withdrawal of the Letter of Permission (LoP) granted to the college to run an MBBS course for the 2025-26 session.
The Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) on Tuesday withdrew its Letter of Permission (LoP) from the college, citing serious deficiencies in infrastructure, clinical material, full-time teaching staff and the number of resident doctors, Hindustan Times reported.
In an order dated January 6, the BMC wrote, “Continuation of the institution under such circumstances would have seriously jeopardised the quality of medical education and adversely affected the academic interests of the students.”
Why Did NMC Cancel LoP For Vaishno Devi Medical College?
Following the issuance of the Letter of Permission (LoP) to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), the National Medical Commission (NMC) received several complaints alleging that the college lacked essential infrastructure, clinical resources, and sufficient qualified staff. The complaints also flagged low numbers of inpatients and outpatients and poor bed-occupancy rates, prompting a surprise inspection from the commission.
During the inspection, the commission found that the deficiencies were gross and substantial in nature, prompting the withdrawal of the LoP granted to the college to run an MBBS course for the 2025-26 session.
Amid the controversy, a social dispute emerged as local residents and Hindu organisations staged protests demanding reservations for Hindu candidates. They argued that since the medical college was constructed and largely run through donations from devotees of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, it should prioritise the community's students. The protests were further fueled by reports that 42 of the 50 students admitted through the NEET process were Muslim.
ALSO READ: Punjab: Gangster, Accused Of AAP Sarpanch’s Murder, Shot Dead In Police Encounter In Amritsar
What Happens To Students Already Admitted To The College?
In its letter, the commission said that students who were already admitted to the Vaishno Devi Medical College for the 2025-26 academic year should be moved to other medical colleges within the Union Territory.
“To safeguard the interests of the students already admitted for the academic year 2025–26, the state or UT authorities have been authorised to accommodate such students in other medical institutions within the Union Territory, as supernumerary seats, in accordance with applicable norms,” the letter read.
As a result, no students will lose their MBBS seats due to the license withdrawal. Instead, they will be transferred to other authorised medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir, which will take them in by expanding their current student capacity.