In a dramatic reversal of position, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) has announced it will conduct counselling on January 24 for the 50 MBBS students left stranded after the National Medical Commission withdrew permission from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME). This marks a complete U-turn from the board's earlier communication stating it could not conduct fresh counselling for the 2025-26 academic session.
Swift Policy Reversal Within Hours
The board's change of heart occurred within hours of its initial refusal. Interestingly, both communications – the refusal and the subsequent notification announcing counselling – bear the same date of January 21, highlighting the rapid nature of this administrative volte-face.
In its fresh notification, BOPEE stated: "That the Board shall conduct the physical round of counselling to accommodate MBBS students of SMVDIME Katra to the Govt. Medical Colleges within the UT of J&K against the supernumerary seats so created."
Allocation Across Seven Government Medical Colleges
The 50 displaced students will be accommodated in seven government medical colleges across the union territory through supernumerary seats. The allocation breaks down as follows:
- Jammu Province (28 seats): Seven additional seats each have been created in Government Medical College Udhampur, GMC Kathua, GMC Rajouri, and GMC Doda.
- Kashmir Valley (22 seats): Seven additional seats each have been allotted to GMC Baramulla and GMC Handwara, while eight seats have been created in GMC Anantnag.
Notably, the government has not allotted any supernumerary seats in premier institutions like GMC Srinagar, GMC Jammu, or the SKIMS Medical College. All seven colleges receiving the additional students have been established within the past seven years.
Background of the Crisis
The crisis began earlier this month when the National Medical Commission withdrew the permission it had previously granted to SMVDIME to conduct MBBS courses in the current academic year. The NMC cited deficiencies in the college's infrastructure and operations as the primary reason for its decision.
This withdrawal left 50 MBBS students who had already joined the institute without an educational institution. The decision occurred against a controversial backdrop, with right-wing groups reportedly protesting the demographic composition of the admitted batch – of the 50 affected students, 44 were Muslim, with most hailing from Kashmir.
Initial Refusal and Subsequent Reversal
In its initial communication to the Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education department dated January 21, BOPEE had firmly stated it could not conduct fresh counselling. The board had argued that "the creation and allotment of supernumerary seats doesn't fall within the ambit of BOPEE" and suggested the J&K government admit students to these seats "at its own level."
The Health and Medical Education department subsequently conveyed the seat matrix for the 50 supernumerary seats, paving the way for the board's changed stance. This rapid policy shift ensures that the affected students will now have a pathway to continue their medical education within government institutions in Jammu and Kashmir.
