New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has rejected the proposal submitted by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), Katra, seeking to place all its MBBS seats under the All India Quota (AIQ) to be filled through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). The commission clarified that such a move would violate existing policy frameworks.
Decision Requires Wider Consultation, Says NMC
An NMC official confirmed that the Apex Medical Commission could not approve the proposal without broader discussions. The official noted that modifying quota distribution involves large-scale policy changes. Therefore, any such proposal must be deliberated with all state governments and key stakeholders before being considered.
Controversy Surrounds MBBS Admissions at SMVDIME
The institute’s request comes amid a growing controversy over its MBBS admissions this year. As earlier reported by Medical Dialogues, protests erupted in the Jammu region after revelations that 90 percent of admitted students belonged to the Muslim community from Kashmir. The situation has triggered political and social tensions.
Disparity in Region-Wise Admissions Sparks Protests
The J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) released a list of 50 candidates admitted to SMVDIME, revealing that 42 students were from Kashmir and only eight from Jammu. Of these, 36 Kashmir-based candidates and three from Jammu have already completed their admissions. This regional disparity became a major point of dissent for protestors.
Political Groups Demand Reservation for Hindus
The protests received support from BJP Udhampur MLA, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and Bajrang Dal. Protestors claimed that a college funded by offerings at the Vaishno Devi shrine should not, in their view, have a student body dominated by a particular religious community. They demanded that seats be reserved exclusively for Hindus.
Reservation Demand Impossible Under Current Rules
Despite the protests, authorities clarified that reserving seats based on religion is not permissible. Since SMVDIME is not recognised as a minority institution, such reservations cannot be implemented. As per existing regulations, 85 percent of MBBS seats fall under the state quota, while the remaining 15 percent belong to the All India Quota.
Institute Seeks AIQ Allocation to Expand Student Pool
According to The Times of India, SMVDIME submitted the proposal to bring all seats under the AIQ to diversify student intake and reduce controversy. However, the NMC declined the request for now, while indicating that the matter could be taken up for board-level discussions if required in the future.
NMC Maintains Policy Consistency Amid Controversy
An NMC official noted that “as of now, 100 percent of candidates are from the state,” and added that the institute was seeking an all-India quota structure to widen its student pool. Nonetheless, the commission maintained that any change must follow established procedures and cannot be implemented unilaterally.
