3 min readJammuJan 22, 2026 11:32 AM IST
First published on: Jan 22, 2026 at 07:10 AM IST
The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examination (JKBOPEE) has said that it cannot conduct fresh counselling for the 2025-26 session, and asked the Union Territory’s government to admit students from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), Katra, to supernumerary seats in other medical colleges “at its own level”.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) had earlier this month withdrawn the permission it had earlier granted to SMVDIME to conduct an MBBS course in the current academic year. This has left 50 MBBS students who joined the institute without a college. While the NMC cited deficiencies in the college infrastructure and operations, its decision had come against the backdrop of right-wing groups protesting against the course’s demography – of the 50 students, 44 were Muslim and most were from Kashmir.
While withdrawing permission for the course, the NMC had asked the J&K government to admit these students against supernumerary seats in other medical colleges in the Union Territory. The J&K Health and Medical Education Department had written to BOPEE, asking for the allotment of supernumerary seats in other medical colleges in J&K.
However, in a communication dated January 21, sent to the Administrative Secretary of J&K’s Health and Medical Education Department, JKBOPEE Under Secretary Nazia Chowdhar said, “The Board has observed that it is constrained to conduct any new counseling for year 2025-25 as it is not mandated to go beyond the counseling schedule issued by the Medical Counseling Committee (MCC), MoHFW, New Delhi for current academic session.”
“Moreover, as per directions of the MCC, the data of 1,410 MBBS candidates, including 50 candidates of SMVDIME under question, has also been updated on their portal on the last date of joining, i.e. 31st of December 2025,” the communication said.
Pointing out that the creation and allocation of supernumerary seats does not fall within its ambit, the board asked the J&K government to make a fresh allocation of supernumerary seats to candidates who were earlier enrolled in SMVDIME “at its own level in consultation with National Medical Commission (NMC) and the respective medical colleges in J&K”.
The NMC withdrew the Letter of Permission (LoP) granted to SMVDIME for the MBBS course earlier this month, also citing serious deficiencies in faculty strength and the availability of clinical materials during a surprise inspection.
The inspection came just months after the NMC had granted permission for the course, following a detailed inspection of the college’s infrastructure. The college had been at the receiving end of protests by right-wing groups, who had questioned how so many Muslim students could be admitted when the college was run from funds donated by Vaishno Devi pilgrims.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) had earlier this month withdrawn the permission it had earlier granted to SMVDIME to conduct an MBBS course in the current academic year. (Photo: Arun Sharma/File) 
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