42 Muslim students will not get admission to Vaishno Devi Medical College! JKBOPEE refuses to conduct new counselling..
The future of MBBS students at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) is currently uncertain. Students hoping for new counseling after the college's de-recognition have suffered a major setback. The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) has clarified that it will not conduct new counseling. The decision to accommodate these students in other medical colleges will now be made by the government and related institutions, further increasing students' concerns.
BOPEE's Clear Refusal on New Counseling
In a letter to the Department of Health and Medical Education, the Jammu and Kashmir BOPEE has clarified that conducting new counseling for MBBS admissions for the year 2025-26 is not within its scope. According to the board, it is mandatory to follow the counseling schedule issued by the Medical Counseling Committee (MCC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, and no separate process can be adopted.
BOPEE stated that under the MCC's directives, the data of a total of 1,410 MBBS candidates, including 50 students from SMVDIME, was updated on the portal by December 31, 2025. Therefore, conducting counseling again would be against the rules. The Board also stated that the creation and allocation of additional seats is not within the jurisdiction of the BOPEE. This decision can only be made jointly by the government, the National Medical Commission (NMC), and the concerned medical college.
Crisis Caused by NMC Action
The entire issue came to a head when the Medical Assessment and Rating Board of the National Medical Commission withdrew its permission to SMVDIME due to non-compliance with minimum standards. Subsequently, it was decided that the students already admitted would be accommodated as additional seats in other medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir.
Students' Future and Growing Political Controversy
The first batch of 50 students admitted to SMVDIME included 42 Muslim students, mostly from Kashmir. In addition, seven Hindu students and one Sikh student from Jammu were also included. Some organizations have begun demanding the cancellation of admissions to the college and the reservation of all seats for students from a specific community. A Sangharsh Samiti, formed by right-wing organizations supported by the BJP, has been protesting in Jammu since November.
Government Assurances
Meanwhile, deep concern remains among students and their parents. While Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has already assured that the studies of these 50 students will not be affected under any circumstances, he has stated that the government has a legal responsibility to accommodate the students by creating additional seats in other medical colleges, closer to their homes, so that their studies are not disrupted.
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