Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Orders Immediate Relocation of Students from Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College
In a recent development, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has taken swift action by directing the relocation of students admitted to Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College to facilities in their hometowns. This decision comes in the wake of the National Medical Commission’s Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) withdrawing the letter of permission granted to the college due to non-compliance with minimum standards.
According to MARB, all students admitted to the college for the academic year 2025-26 will be accommodated in other medical institutions in Jammu and Kashmir as supernumerary seats. This move has been necessitated by the recent agitation led by the Sangharsh Samiti, a coalition of right-wing organizations supported by the BJP, demanding the cancellation of admissions to the college.
The agitation stemmed from the composition of the inaugural MBBS batch, where out of 50 students, 42 were Muslims, seven were Hindus from Jammu, and one was a Sikh. This distribution of seats raised concerns among right-wing groups, leading to calls for reservation exclusively for students professing faith in Mata Vaishno Devi.
Chief Minister Abdullah has emphasized the importance of ensuring that affected students are seamlessly transitioned to government medical colleges near their homes. He stated that the relocation process should be expedited to allow students to continue their medical education and contribute to the healthcare needs of the region.
Addressing the celebration by the right-wing outfits over the permission withdrawal, Abdullah expressed his disapproval, highlighting the detrimental impact on the future of Jammu and Kashmir’s children. He criticized the joy derived from jeopardizing the educational opportunities of students in the region.
Abdullah further underscored the repercussions of the closure of the medical college on the future prospects of aspiring students. He urged the community to remember the actions of the Sangharsh Samiti members and their impact on the educational landscape of the region.
Switching gears to district governance, Abdullah commended the performance of Samba district while acknowledging the need for accelerated progress in certain areas. He expressed optimism that the district’s performance would significantly improve by the end of the financial year.
Touching on controversies surrounding player selections in sports teams, Abdullah emphasized meritocracy over religious affiliations. He affirmed his support for the development of sports talent in Jammu and Kashmir, regardless of religious backgrounds.
In a show of solidarity with the U-16 cricket team, Abdullah announced plans to personally congratulate the players for their recent success in lifting the Vijay Merchant Trophy. He expressed hope for continued success and growth in sports teams representing the region.
