Religious Politics Threatens New Medical Institute in Jammu & Kashmir
A newly established medical college in Jammu & Kashmir has become the center of an unwanted religious controversy that threatens both its students and institutional future. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra, which just began its first academic session, faces demands to scrap its admission list from BJP and Sangh Parivar organizations.
The controversy erupted after 42 out of 50 MBBS seats in the inaugural batch went to Muslim candidates from Kashmir. The Bajrang Dal and VHP have objected to this outcome, arguing that since the institute was established using donations from the Hindu Vaishno Devi shrine, the admission pattern represents a problem.
Constitutional Violation and Legal Concerns
Legal experts point out that the protests against the admission results raise serious constitutional questions. The Vaishno Devi Medical Institute is not classified as a minority institution and has followed National Medical Council guidelines in its admission process.
Any attempt to categorize students by religious identity and exclude them on that basis violates their fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. Labeling students as "Hindu" or "Muslim" for admission purposes is both wrong and illegal, according to constitutional experts.
The institute represents a significant achievement for the region, having been established through substantial investment from the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. However, these new educational opportunities are now threatened by what many describe as cynical political maneuvering.
Admission Pattern Reflects Regional Trends
Data from recent years shows that the admission pattern at the new medical institute follows an established trend in Jammu & Kashmir. While medical colleges in the Jammu region typically have more available seats compared to Kashmir, students from Kashmir have consistently secured most of these seats in recent admission cycles.
The reverse pattern holds true for engineering seats, where students from Jammu tend to dominate admissions in Kashmir-based institutions. This regional balance in professional education admissions has been observed for several years.
The medical institute, which began operations in November 2025, stands at a critical juncture. Rather than becoming a political battleground, it should focus on its educational mission and providing quality medical education to deserving students regardless of their religious background.
Many educationists worry that pulling up the drawbridges now would represent a grave injustice to students and severely limit the institution's potential to become a center of medical excellence in the region.
The controversy highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining secular educational spaces in India, particularly in institutions that serve diverse student populations from different regions and communities.
