Gross deficiencies: MBBS recognition cancelled at J&K medical college amid row over admission of Muslim students
The decision came after a surprise inspection conducted on January 6 by the NMC's Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB), which found serious violations of minimum academic and infrastructural standards. The Commission termed the deficiencies a direct violation of the NMC Regulations, 2023, and cancelled the Letter of Permission (LoP) granted to the institution. The NMC has also ordered the forfeiture of the college's bank guarantee.
New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has withdrawn permission for the MBBS course at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, also known as the Shrine Board Medical College, for the academic session 2025–26, effectively barring admissions to all 50 MBBS seats at the institution.
The medical college is located in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The decision came after a surprise inspection conducted on January 6 by the NMC's Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB), which found serious violations of minimum academic and infrastructural standards. The Commission termed the deficiencies a direct violation of the NMC Regulations, 2023, and cancelled the Letter of Permission (LoP) granted to the institution. The NMC has also ordered the forfeiture of the college's bank guarantee.
NMC's letter over the granting of permission
In a detailed order, the NMC said the college had initially been granted approval after due process, including document scrutiny and physical inspection by expert assessors, following which admissions were made.
"Pursuant to the said notices, the NMC received an application for the establishment of a new medical college, namely Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, along with several other applications. After following the due process, including scrutiny of documents and physical inspection by expert assessors, the MARB granted a LoP to the said college. Accordingly, admissions were made by the institution," read a letter issued by NMC.
However, the Commission said it received multiple complaints over the past two weeks alleging inadequate infrastructure, insufficient clinical material, shortage of qualified full-time teaching faculty, and an inadequate number of resident doctors.
Surprise physical inspection showed deficiencies
To verify the complaints, the MARB conducted a surprise physical inspection. "The assessment report submitted by the team established that the complaints were true and substantiated. The deficiencies observed were gross and substantial in nature," the NMC said.
The Commission reiterated that medical colleges must demonstrate full preparedness on the ground and strictly adhere to prescribed norms to be permitted to conduct academic programmes.
The NMC clarified that students already admitted to the MBBS course would not be affected by the decision. It has directed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to shift existing students to other recognised medical colleges in the Union Territory through supernumerary seats, in accordance with NMC rules.
Controversy over 46 of the 50 students being Muslims
For the 2025–26 academic session, admissions to all 50 MBBS seats at the Shrine Board Medical College will remain completely suspended.
The decision comes amid controversy over admissions to the college's maiden MBBS batch, where 46 of the 50 students were reported to be Muslim. The issue had triggered protests by local residents and several Hindu organisations, who demanded reservation for Hindu candidates, arguing that the institution was established and largely funded through donations from devotees of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.