Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Orders Transfer of Medical Students Amid Controversy

Transfer of Medical Students Ordered

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced that students from the Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College will be relocated to institutions closer to their hometowns. This decision follows the revocation of the college's permission by the National Medical Commission's Medical Assessment and Rating Board due to non-compliance with minimum standards.

The Medical Assessment and Rating Board stated that all students who gain admission to the college during the counseling for the academic year 2025-26 will be accommodated in other medical institutions in Jammu and Kashmir as additional seats, as directed by the competent authority of the Union Territory administration.

This directive comes in the wake of protests led by a newly formed group called the 'Struggle Committee,' supported by right-wing organizations affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party. They have been advocating for the cancellation of admissions to the college and demanding reserved seats specifically for students who hold faith in Mata Vaishno Devi.

After addressing a district review meeting in Samba, the Chief Minister informed reporters, 'I have instructed Health Minister Sakina Ittoo to ensure that students affected by the cancellation of the Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College's permission are accommodated in government medical colleges near their homes.'

The Chief Minister also condemned the celebrations by right-wing groups following the revocation of the college's permission, questioning, 'What is there to celebrate? People across the country struggle to gain admission to medical colleges, and here, a fight has been waged to close a medical college, jeopardizing the future of children in Jammu and Kashmir.'