The National Medical Commission (NMC) has revoked permission for the MBBS course at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir, for the 2025–26 academic year. The decision comes at a time when the college’s first admission list included a majority of Muslim students, triggering strong protests from local Hindutva groups.

The NMC cited serious technical and academic deficiencies at the institute as the official reason for the revocation. The commission noted a shortage of full-time qualified faculty, inadequate clinical resources, and insufficient numbers of resident doctors. It warned that under these conditions, running the college could seriously affect students’ education and future prospects.

Of the 50 seats in the college’s first batch, 44 students were Muslim, while only 6 Hindu students from Jammu were selected, of whom just three joined the course. Following the release of the admission list, members of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti, BJP, RSS, Shiv Sena, and Bajrang Dal staged protests demanding preferential admission for Hindu students.

Experts say the controversy highlights how religion and politics in educational institutions can jeopardize students’ careers and the quality of education.

Local students and parents are expressing concern and apprehension over the decision. It remains to be seen how the college administration and NMC resolve the situation and when the admission process will resume for the next academic session.