ISLAMABAD: India has reportedly shut down a medical college in Jammu and Kashmir, a territory it administers, following controversy over the admission of a significant number of Muslim students into its inaugural MBBS program, as per Al Jazeera’s latest report.
The National Medical Commission (NMC), India’s central body regulating medical education and practices, rescinded the recognition of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical Institute (SMVDMI) on January 6. The institute, located in Reasi within the Jammu region, had launched its first five-year bachelor’s course in medicine (MBBS) in November, admitting 50 students—of whom 42 were reported to be Muslims, predominantly from Kashmir. The remaining students included seven Hindus and one Sikh.
For many, like 18-year-old Saniya Jan from Baramulla district in Kashmir, securing admission was a moment of joy and accomplishment. After passing the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), she became eligible for medical school and chose SMVDMI due to its proximity—316 kilometers (196 miles) from her home—a convenient choice compared to other colleges farther away. Saniya’s parents had been overjoyed, with her father, Gazanfar Ahmad, proudly noting her consistent academic excellence.
However, the initial excitement turned into turmoil. Local Hindu groups protested the admission demographics of the college, organizing sustained demonstrations and demanding the exclusion of Muslim students. These protests were accompanied by pressure from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators, who petitioned Kashmir’s lieutenant governor to reserve seats at MVDMI exclusively for Hindu students.
Amid escalating tensions, the NMC announced the withdrawal of the college’s authorization on January 6, citing alleged infrastructural deficits. A “letter of permission,” which enabled the institution to operate, was subsequently revoked. Nonetheless, students interviewed by Al Jazeera contested this claim, asserting that SMVDMI was adequately equipped to offer medical education. Jahan, a student who preferred to use only her second name, mentioned that the college had better facilities compared to many others. For instance, while some colleges would allocate one cadaver per batch, SMVDMI provided four cadavers, allowing individual dissection opportunities for every student.
Rafiq, another student, also remarked on the quality of resources at SMVDMI, claiming it surpassed those available at renowned government medical colleges in Srinagar. Even Saniya’s father found no apparent deficiencies when visiting the institution at the beginning of the academic session. “The faculty was supportive, and religion didn’t seem to matter on campus,” he recalled.
The abrupt crackdown left many questioning the legitimacy of infrastructural concerns raised by authorities. Zafar Choudhary, a political analyst based in Jammu, expressed doubts about how the NMC initially authorized MVDMI if infrastructure was allegedly subpar. “It makes little sense for such deficiencies to appear after classes had already begun,” he stated.
Choudhary also criticized what he called an “illogical” demand from Hindu groups to restrict admissions based on religion. Describing India’s NEET-based admission process as impartial and neutral, he explained that selections are made following a systematic process where candidates rank their preferred colleges, and allocations are determined accordingly.
Salim Manzoor, another student of SMVDMI, noted that within India-administered Kashmir (a Muslim-majority region), there are existing quotas for Hindu students in certain medical colleges. This juxtaposition further fueled anger over what many saw as an unjust targeting of Muslim enrollees at MVDMI.
The executive head of SMVDMI, Yashpal Sharma, did not respond to calls or messages when contacted for comment. The college has also not issued any public statements since losing its authorization.
The situation drew sharp criticism from political leaders like Omar Abdullah. He condemned BJP-aligned groups for their anti-Muslim campaign against SMVDMI and underscored the unusual nature of their protests. “In most places, people advocate for establishing medical colleges in their communities,” Abdullah remarked. “Here, they fought to shut one down.”
