The recognition of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical Institute (SMVDMI) has been canceled in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This drastic step was taken by the National Medical Commission (NMC) on 6 January 2026. The order to close the college, located in Reasi district, came after weeks of protests by right-wing Hindu groups. The main reason for the resentment of these groups was that the majority of the students who were selected on the basis of merit in the first MBBS batch of the college were Muslims. Officially the government has cited lack of facilities in the college, but critics believe that this decision has been taken under political pressure.
42 Muslim students on 50 seats: The real reason for the dispute
This medical college started its first academic session in November 2025. A total of 50 students got admission on the basis of merit through NEET exam. According to the data, out of these 50 students, 42 were Muslims, who were mainly residents of Kashmir Valley. The remaining students included seven Hindus and one Sikh student. As soon as Hindu organizations came to know about the religion of the students, they started protesting. The protesters argued that this college is run with the donations of Mata Vaishno Devi Temple, hence Muslim students should not have the right to study in it. BJP leaders had also written a letter to the Lieutenant Governor demanding that only Hindu students should be given admission here.
Commission points out shortcomings, but students claim something else
Amid massive protests, the National Medical Commission (NMC) on January 6 canceled the college’s affiliation, saying the institute did not meet the minimum standards. The Commission claimed that there is a severe shortage of facilities like faculty in the college, beds in the hospital, number of patients in OPD and operation theatre. However, students studying there told Al Jazeera that there were no shortcomings at the college. A student said that while in government colleges the entire batch learns on one cadaver, in this college four cadavers were available. Students and political analysts say that if the college had so many shortcomings, then why was it approved in the beginning?
‘Our merit was made a religion’
18-year-old Sania Jaan* (name changed), resident of Baramulla, dreamed of becoming a doctor after passing NEET. He thought that his hard work had paid off, but now he is disappointed. Sania said, “It was like a dream come true, but now everything has fallen apart. All this happened because of our identity. They made our merit an issue of religion.” At present, all the students have packed their belongings and returned home. Sania’s father says that when he dropped his daughter to college, the environment there was very good and the behavior of the teachers was also very supportive. There was no discrimination inside the campus regarding religion.
Chief Minister’s intervention and government’s clarification
After this controversy, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced that the future of the students will not be allowed to be spoiled. He said that these 50 students have passed the NEET exam with hard work, hence they will be adjusted in other medical colleges of the area. Criticizing the BJP and Hindu groups, Abdullah said that people usually fight to open medical colleges, but here a fight was fought to close the college. On the other hand, BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur said that the college is named after Mata Vaishno Devi and the sentiments of crores of Hindus are attached to it. He also said that the reason for de-recognition was only due to deficiencies found by the NMC and not religion.
Question on funding: Is it just Hindu money?
NECA (National Conference) MLA Tanveer Sadiq said that the university of which this college is a part, has received help of 13 million dollars (about more than Rs 100 crore) from the government since 2017. This means that taxpayers’ money is also involved in this and not just donations from the temple. Student unions say that this is a dangerous trend. He argued that there are many Muslim-run minority institutions across the country, but they have no official policy to keep Hindus out. Students are now waiting for the next step of the government so that their year of becoming a doctor is not wasted.
Last Updated: 16 January 2026
