Even as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had promised that all affected medical students of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) would be adjusted in other colleges of the Union Territory, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE), late on Wednesday evening, informed the Health and Medical Education Department that it is not empowered to conduct any fresh counselling for MBBS admissions for the academic session 2025–26 beyond the schedule notified by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
In an official communication addressed to the Administrative Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department—a copy of which lies with International Business Times—JKBOPEE stated that the issue regarding allocation of MBBS students against supernumerary seats was placed before the Board for detailed deliberations. However, the Board observed that it is constrained from going beyond the counselling schedule issued by the MCC for the current academic session.'
The Board further pointed out that, as per MCC directions, the data of 1,410 MBBS candidates, including 50 candidates of SMVDIME, has already been updated on the MCC portal, with the last date of joining being December 31, 2025.
JKBOPEE clarified that the creation and allotment of supernumerary seats do not fall within its ambit. It stated that any fresh allocation of such seats to candidates earlier allotted to SMVDIME by JKBOPEE must be undertaken at the government level, in consultation with the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the concerned medical colleges in the Union Territory.
A rank-wise list of NEET-UG-qualified candidates admitted to SMVDIME after counselling by JKBOPEE has been enclosed with the communication for further necessary action.
Sajad Lone calls J&K government insensitive
Wasting no time in attacking the Omar Abdullah-led government over the JKBOPEE notification, Peoples' Conference chief Sajad Lone termed the Jammu and Kashmir Government as heartless.
"This is unbelievable. The heartlessness of the government in washing its hands of the 50 students of the 'once upon a time' Vaishno Devi medical college," Lone posted on social media.
"The government, in its typical style, has shifted the blame elsewhere. These students are now academically stranded and at the mercy of God knows who," he stated, adding: "'Short of being dead, it is the final, unsurpassable stage of irresponsibility'—wrote George Orwell. That is the bloody state of this government."
NMC earlier withdrew permission for the MBBS course
As reported earlier, the National Medical Commission earlier this month withdrew the Letter of Permission (LoP) for 50 MBBS seats at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence following protests over admissions in Jammu. The decision brought an end to the agitation led by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti.
Admissions to the first batch of medical students had triggered a major uproar in Jammu, as a large number of admitted students reportedly belonged to a particular community. Several groups threatened protests, alleging irregularities in the admission process.
Following the withdrawal of the LoP, it was announced that the students already admitted to the institute would be adjusted in various Government Medical Colleges across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Commission directed that students admitted by SMVDIME for the academic year 2025–26 during counselling shall be accommodated as supernumerary seats in other Government Medical Colleges within the Union Territory by the competent authority.
Amid the unfolding situation, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had publicly stated that the affected students would be adjusted in nearby government medical colleges. However, with the national counselling process for the current academic session having concluded, questions were subsequently raised over whether JKBOPEE was legally empowered to re-allot or accommodate such candidates in other medical colleges within the Union Territory.
