The National Medical Commission (NMC) has taken the drastic step of revoking the permission granted to a prominent medical college in Jammu, citing a failure to meet essential standards. This decision coincides with a heated political controversy surrounding the religious demographics of its student admissions.
Immediate Revocation and Student Safeguards
On Tuesday, January 7, 2026, the NMC's Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) officially withdrew the Letter of Permission (LoP) granted to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir. The action was taken under Section 28(7) of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, which allows for surprise inspections.
The commission's order guarantees that all 50 MBBS students admitted to the college's inaugural batch for the 2025-26 academic year will not lose their seats. They will be accommodated as supernumerary students in other recognized medical colleges within the Union Territory. The responsibility for this relocation process lies with the UT's health and counselling authorities.
The Inspection That Led to the Decision
The trigger for this action was a surprise inspection conducted on January 2, 2026. The assessors found the institute lacking in multiple critical areas. The official report highlighted significant deficiencies, including:
- Insufficient faculty strength
- Inadequate clinical material
- Sub-par infrastructure
These shortcomings were deemed a non-compliance with the Minimum Standard Requirements (UGMSR-2023) for establishing and running a medical college. After reviewing the assessment, the NMC, with the approval of its chairman, decided on immediate revocation.
The Political Controversy Over Admissions
Parallel to the quality concerns, the institute was embroiled in a major political dispute. The admission list for its first batch showed that out of 50 students, 42 were Muslims, one was Sikh, and the remaining were from other communities. This composition sparked intense protests from several groups in the Jammu region, including local trade bodies and BJP leaders.
The protestors argued that since the college is run by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, its admissions should primarily benefit Hindu students. The BJP had formally submitted a memorandum to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who chairs the Shrine Board, demanding a rollback of the admissions.
BJP MLA RS Pathania welcomed the NMC's decision, framing it as a victory for quality, stating, "Quality Over Quantity: NMC has revoked permission... due to a failure to meet essential standards. It reaffirms commitment to quality."
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier expressed concerns about student safety due to the increasing politicization of the campus and had urged the central government to shut down the institution and relocate the students.
It is important to note that the college maintained it followed the National Medical Commission's guidelines for admissions based solely on the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) merit list.
The NMC's order effectively separates the issues of institutional standards from the social controversy, ensuring the academic future of the admitted students while enforcing regulatory compliance.
