NMC Revokes Permission for Vaishno Devi Medical College Amid Faculty Shortage and Admission Row

ROHAN CHOUDHARY
JAMMU: In a major setback to medical education infrastructure in the region, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has withdrawn the Letter of Permission (LoP) granted to the newly established Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Kakryal. The decision, announced on Tuesday, effectively cancels the MBBS course for the academic year 2025–26.
The move comes days after a surprise inspection by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) on January 2, which flagged “gross and substantial” deficiencies in the institute’s operation. However, the closure also arrives in the midst of a heated socio-political controversy regarding the demographic composition of the college’s first batch of students.
According to the NMC order, the inspection revealed critical gaps in both manpower and infrastructure. The assessment found a 39% deficiency in teaching faculty and a staggering 65% shortage of tutors, demonstrators, and senior residents.
Furthermore, the commission noted that the attached Narayana Super Specialty Hospital lacked the requisite number of general beds mandated for undergraduate medical training, as the facility is primarily geared towards super-specialty care. While the NMC’s order focused on technical compliance, the institute has been at the center of a public storm for weeks. Protests erupted recently after it was revealed that a large majority of the first batch of 50 admitted students belonged to a specific community.
Several organizations, including the Yuva Rajput Sabha, raised strong objections, arguing that an institution funded by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and built on devotees’ donations should prioritize Hindu students or safeguard their interests. The Shrine Board had previously attempted to quell the unrest by requesting the NMC to fill 100% of seats via the All India Quota—a proposal the apex medical body rejected for violating the standard 85:15 State-to-Central quota ratio. The J&K administration has moved quickly to assure the 50 students already enrolled that their academic year will not be wasted. Officials confirmed that these students will be shifted to other recognized Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) within the Union Territory.
The seats required to accommodate them will be treated as “supernumerary”—created over and above the sanctioned intake—to ensuring that the prospects of existing students in those colleges remain unaffected. The issue has sparked sharp political rhetoric. Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah recently weighed in, criticizing the demand for religious reservations in institutions supported by state land and government machinery. Meanwhile, groups such as the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti have welcomed the NMC’s intervention, viewing the pause in operations as an opportunity to reassess the institute’s admission policies.
For now, the ambitious medical project at Kakryal faces an uncertain future as it must rectify substantial infrastructure gaps before applying for fresh permission in the next academic cycle.