Srinagar- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said he has directed the immediate relocation of students admitted to the Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College to government medical institutions closest to their hometowns.
The directive comes a day after the National Medical Commission’s Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) withdrew the letter of permission granted to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Reasi district for failing to meet minimum regulatory standards.
As per the MARB order, all students admitted during the counselling for the academic year 2025–26 are to be accommodated in other recognised medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir as supernumerary seats by the Union Territory administration.
The withdrawal followed protests by the Sangharsh Samiti, a recently formed group of right-wing organisations backed by the BJP, which had demanded cancellation of admissions and sought reservation of seats exclusively for students professing faith in Mata Vaishno Devi.
The group emerged soon after admissions to the inaugural MBBS batch of 50 students were completed through the NEET merit list. Of these, 42 students were Muslims, mostly from Kashmir, seven were Hindus from Jammu, and one was Sikh, a composition that triggered opposition from the outfit.
“I have directed the Health Minister, Sakina Itoo, to ensure that students affected by the withdrawal of permission are adjusted in government medical colleges near their homes,” Omar told reporters after addressing a district review meeting in Samba.
He said the process must be expedited so that students can continue their medical education without disruption and later serve the people of the region.
Omar also criticised the celebration by right-wing groups following the decision, calling it deeply disturbing.
“What is this happiness about? Across the country, people struggle to secure medical college seats, and here a movement was launched to shut down a medical college,” he said. “If destroying the future of children gives someone happiness, then burst firecrackers.”
He pointed out that 40 of the 50 seats this year had gone to students from Kashmir and said that within one or two years, the intake would have expanded to around 400 seats, with an estimated 200 to 250 seats likely to go to students from Jammu.
“Tomorrow, those children will not get medical college seats because the entire institution has been shut down in the name of religion,” Omar said, adding that people should remember those responsible for this outcome.
On governance issues, the Chief Minister said development and administrative performance in Samba district has been largely satisfactory, though work in a few sectors needs to be accelerated.
“I hope that by March 31, when the financial year ends, Samba’s performance will be noticeably better compared to other districts,” he said.
Addressing recent controversies over the selection of football and cricket teams, Omar said performance, not religion, should be the sole criterion.
“I do not care what religion a player belongs to. I only want teams from Jammu and Kashmir to perform well,” he said, adding that he would personally meet and congratulate the under-16 cricket team that recently won the Vijay Merchant Trophy.
