Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Jammu: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has abruptly revoked the Letter of Permission (LoP) for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME). The decision effectively shuts down the MBBS program for the 2025-26 session. Although the board cited a catastrophic failure to meet basic institutional standards, the row started after a Hindu group opposed the high occupancy of the MBBS seats by the muslim students.
'Gross and substantial' deficiencies
Following a flurry of complaints over the last fortnight, the NMC dispatched a team of expert assessors for a surprise inspection. Their findings painted a grim picture of an institution allegedly operating in name only. According to the Union Health Ministry, the college was operating as a "laboratory of deficiencies" rather than a centre for medical excellence.
While medical colleges are typically granted a hearing to rectify errors, the NMC bypassed the usual leniency in this case, citing that continuing the session would "seriously jeopardise the quality of medical education."
NMC letter issued to the principal of the medical institute mentioned:
Shortage of faculty: A staggering 39 per cent shortage in teaching staff and a massive 65 per cent vacancy among tutors, demonstrators, and senior residents.
Empty beds: While NMC mandates 80 per cent bed occupancy, SMVDIME recorded a dismal 45 per cent. The Intensive Care Units (ICUs) were half-empty.
Ghost OPDs: The Outpatient Department saw less than half the required patient flow, suggesting a lack of clinical exposure for students.
Unavailable books: The library held only 50% of the required books and a meagre two journals out of the mandatory fifteen.
Missing infrastructure: The inspection noted the total absence of departmental research labs, an ART centre, and facilities for MDR-TB management.
Rescue plan for students
The withdrawal leaves 50 students, who were admitted for the 2025-26 session based on their NEET merit, in a state of limbo. Notably, 44 of these 50 students are from the Muslim community..
In a rare relief measure, the NMC has directed competent authorities to accommodate these students in other government medical institutions within the Union Territory as "supernumerary seats," ensuring their academic year is not wasted due to the administration’s failures.
The 'winter vacation' defence
Officials at SMVDIME have responded to the NMC, claiming that the inspection was a "rigged" surprise. College authorities allege they were given only 15 minutes' notice before the team arrived. They argue that the "deficiencies" in faculty were simply due to staff being away on winter vacations.
" Show me one medical which gets prepared for inspection in 15 minutes; it looks like a deliberate attempt to shut the college down to achieve the political goal," a college official stated, maintaining that their infrastructure is fully compliant.
RSS's Hindu-Muslim divide
Adding a layer of political intrigue to the regulatory crackdown, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti, an umbrella group of nearly 60 pro-RSS and pro-BJP organisations, has publicly claimed credit for the inspection. The group stated they pressured the commission to investigate the institute, citing concerns over the quality and management of the facility.
The Sangarsh Samiti was formed to lead the agitation against the admission of Muslim students from Kashmir into the medical institute. The group demanded that the Kashmiri students admitted to the college should be shifted to other colleges in the UT. They also mentioned that the college is run by the money raised by the offerings made at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine by Hindu pilgrims from across the country and should not be utilised for the studies of muslim students.
