Religious Controversy Erupts Over Medical College Admissions in Jammu
Significant protests have erupted in Jammu as organizations affiliated with the Sangh Parivar demand the cancellation of the inaugural admission list at Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra. The controversy stems from the fact that 90% of the selected students belong to the Muslim community, predominantly from Kashmir, sparking demands for Hindu reservations at the institution established with shrine donations.
BJP Udhampur MLA R S Pathania has thrown his weight behind the demonstrations organized by Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. The core argument presented by protestors is that an educational institute funded by offerings made to the Hindu Vaishno Devi shrine should not be dominated by students from the Muslim community.
Admission Statistics Fuel the Fire
The Jammu & Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) finalized a list of 50 candidates for admission to the medical college. Among these, 42 students hail from Kashmir while only eight come from the Jammu region. Official records indicate that 36 students from Kashmir and three from Jammu have already secured their admission.
This distribution has triggered aggressive demonstrations outside the Kakrayal-based institute, where activists burned effigies of the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board CEO. VHP J&K president Rajesh Gupta demanded immediate suspension of the 2025-26 session admissions, calling the current selection list "a conspiracy to Islamize the medical college."
Legal Framework Versus Emotional Appeals
Despite the emotional appeals, officials point to the legal framework governing admissions. The Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Institute of Medical Excellence is not classified as a minority institution, making religion-based reservations legally impermissible. Admissions strictly follow National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines, which mandate merit-based selection through NEET rankings.
Bajrang Dal J&K president Rakesh Bajrangi argued for admissions from the central NEET pool, emphasizing that since the college was built using donations from pilgrims across India, it should have a national character rather than being dominated by students from one region.
BJP MLA Pathania reinforced this stance, stating, "Even minority institutes that get government funding have seats reserved for the community they represent. Here, the institute doesn't take a single penny from the government and runs on Vaishno Devi pilgrims' donations. So seats should be reserved for Hindu students."
Admission Process Timeline Explained
The unusual admission pattern emerged due to specific circumstances in the admission timeline. The Vaishnodevi medical college received NMC approval only on September 8, 2025, much later than other institutions. By this time, the first round of counseling for J&K medical colleges had concluded, and the second round was nearing completion.
Consequently, the admission list for Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Institute was prepared after a third round of counseling, which featured a candidate pool where over 70% belonged to the Muslim community. This pattern isn't entirely new, as officials note that in recent years, students from Kashmir have consistently secured most medical seats in Jammu region colleges, while Jammu students prefer engineering courses.
The National Conference's Jammu province president Rattan Lal Gupta placed responsibility on the Shrine Board, suggesting that while applying for NMC approval, they should have simultaneously sought minority status for the institution. Since this wasn't done, the JKBOPEE had no alternative but to select students purely based on NEET merit, which resulted in higher-ranking Muslim students from Kashmir securing admission.
