A major decision was taken on January 7.
The administration of the Jammu institute asked MBBS students to return to their homes just a few hours after the National Medical Commission (NMC) withdrew permission for the institute to run the MBBS course. Following the NMC’s decision, the college authorities instructed students to leave the campus and go back home for the time being.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence has once again approached the National Medical Commission (NMC) to seek approval for running its MBBS course for the 2026–27 academic session.
According to official sources, the institute has completed all the required formalities and submitted a fresh application to the NMC. This process also included depositing nearly Rs 10 lakh as fees for inspection and other necessary procedures. Sources shared this information with The Indian Express.
Earlier, on January 7, the institute administration had asked MBBS students to return to their homes just hours after the NMC withdrew permission for the college to run the MBBS programme.
The decision from the NMC had come at a time when protests were being held by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti, a group consisting of nearly 60 pro-RSS and pro-BJP organisations. The group had raised objections over the admission of Muslim students in the institute. In the college’s first-ever MBBS batch of 50 students, 44 students were Muslim.
The Sangh Samiti had been demanding that students from Kashmir be transferred to other medical colleges within the Union Territory. They argued that SMVDIME was established using donations made at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine by Hindu pilgrims from across India.
When the students were instructed to leave the campus, many alleged that the NMC’s decision was influenced by these protests, raising concerns about the timing and the reasons behind the withdrawal of permission.
However, while withdrawing the Letter of Permission (LoP), the NMC cited serious deficiencies in the institute’s infrastructure, faculty strength, and availability of clinical material as reasons for the decision.
The institute officials, however, denied any shortcomings in infrastructure and expressed confidence that they would be in an even stronger position when the NMC team visits for inspection in April–May. This, they said, would be possible because the Narayana Superspecialty Hospital is set to become part of the medical institute. Sources revealed that the process of taking over the hospital’s management is already underway, and all its staff, including doctors, will start reporting to the institute from April 1.
Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 19, 2016, the Narayana Superspecialty Hospital at Kakryal, near Katra, provides care across more than 20 medical specialties.
Officials said that with the hospital becoming part of the institute, the strength of teaching and clinical staff at the medical college will see a significant boost. They also added that further enhancements to the existing infrastructure are planned over the next few months.
As for the 50 MBBS students from the cancelled course, they were relocated to seven newly established government medical colleges in the Union Territory. Of these, 22 students were placed in three colleges in the Kashmir Valley, while the remaining students were adjusted in four colleges in the Jammu province.