Controversy Erupts Over Admission Policies at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College

The Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Sangharsh Samiti plans a protest in Jammu, demanding minority status for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College and rejecting its admission list. This follows the admission of a majority of Muslim students, leading right-wing groups to question the process and stir controversy.

The Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Sangharsh Samiti, a coalition of various organizations, has announced plans to protest in Jammu, demanding that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College be declared a minority institution and voicing opposition to its current admission list.

This call to action comes in response to the admission of 42 Muslim students among the sanctioned 50 MBBS seats for the 2025–26 session, alongside one Sikh and seven Hindu candidates. The medical college, sited on SMVD Shrine Board land, was recently permitted to admit students by the National Medical Commission.

Protests have erupted from groups like the BJP and Shiv Sena, questioning the college's admission process and demanding a religiously restricted admissions policy. Jammu and Kashmir's former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has criticized the unrest, emphasizing merit-based admissions over religious considerations.

(With inputs from agencies.)