NMC withdraws Mata Vaishno Devi college’s MBBS list with 42 Muslim candidates citing 'non-compliance'; BJP welcomes move

The National Medical Commission (NMC) on Tuesday (January 6, 2026) withdrew the MBBS list of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), which saw 42 Kashmiri Muslim candidates qualifying out of 50 seats last year, citing the varsity’s “non-compliance of minimum standards”. The move has been welcomed by the BJP.

Officials said the NMC’s Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) withdrew the Letter of Permission (LoP) granted to the varsity in Reasi’s Kakryal for running the MBBS course with 50 seats for the academic year 2025-26.

The NMC said the decision takes immediate effect, as it “follows severe findings about non-compliance with minimum standards during a surprise inspection”.

“To safeguard the interests of the students already admitted for the academic Year 2025–26, the State/UT authorities have been authorised to accommodate such students in other medical institutions within the Union Territory, as supernumerary seats, in accordance with applicable norms,” officials said.

The sudden withdrawal of the list came after weeks of protests by multiple Hindu groups, supported by the BJP leaders in Jammu, against allowing Muslim students to study in a college run on the donations of Hindu pilgrims in Jammu. The protests came to the fore after 42 Kashmiri Muslims qualified the National Eligibility Test (NET) and managed admissions in the college.

Welcoming the development, BJP leader and legislator R.S. Pathania said, “The NMC has revoked permission for 50 MBBS seats at SMVDIME due to a failure to meet essential standards. It reaffirms commitment to quality. Every affected student will be seamlessly transferred to a supernumerary seat in other UT colleges.

The Mata Vaishno Devi University came into being in 1999 after the J&K Assembly passed a Bill. Later, it was granted government funds and around 80 kanals of State land to function in Jammu’s Katra.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had warned against cancelling the MBBS list. “Admission cannot be granted without merit. Introducing religion into admissions would violate constitutional provisions. Once religion becomes a factor in institutional decisions, it could influence other areas of governance. Can similar principles be followed in social welfare schemes or policing?” Mr. Abdullah had said.

He had also challenged the varsity “to seek minority status for the varsity” and “give up special concessions given by the government”.