Protests have been ongoing in Jammu over the admissions to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), a newly established medical college in the Reasi district, after the first MBBS batch’s admission list showed a large proportion of Muslim students.
The demonstrations have taken place outside Lok Bhavan in Jammu, calling for the cancellation of the admission list and a review of the selection process.
The row began when the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) released the first list of 50 MBBS admissions for the academic year 2025–26, with 42 of the selected students reportedly from the Muslim community and the remaining 7 Hindu students and 1 Sikh. The selection was conducted on the basis of merit through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and according to applicable rules, as the institute is not classified as a minority institution.
Right-wing Hindu groups and some local politicians have objected to the composition of the list, asserting that the institution which is funded through donations to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine board should prioritise local or Hindu candidates, although the college operates under merit-based admission criteria and does not enjoy minority status.
Protests were widely reported on Saturday, December 27, 2025, when dozens to hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Lok Bhavan, the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, who serves as chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
During the demonstrations:
Protesters burnt effigies of Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and raised slogans against the admission process.
Some groups attempted to breach security cordons, prompting a strong police presence to manage the crowd and maintain order.
Main roads near Lok Bhavan were temporarily blocked, causing traffic disruptions.
Members of multiple organisations, including the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliates, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, and local trade bodies, joined the protests.
Protesters demanded that the MBBS admission list be revoked and that seats be reserved or safeguarded for Hindu students or local candidates, arguing that the current allocation did not reflect the religious sentiments of many in the Jammu region.
According to organisers, the protests will continue until the demands are addressed, including the cancellation of the admission list and a review of the policy under which the admissions were granted.
Authorities have maintained that the selection process was carried out according to established merit-based rules and that the institute does not have minority institution status, meaning that admissions cannot be based on religion. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reiterated that admissions should be determined by merit and pointed out that statutory criteria at the time of the college’s establishment did not specify religious quotas or reservations.
Beyond the main protest at Lok Bhavan, additional demonstrations were reported in last weeks, including calls for a probe into the admission process by groups such as the Shiv Sena Dogra Front, which sought investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and raised concerns about procedural transparency.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence received sanction for 50 MBBS seats for the 2025–26 academic session. The college operates under the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, a body overseeing various educational institutions in the region. Admissions to SMVDIME were based on NEET performance and domicile criteria, consistent with regulations and guidelines for medical education in India.
Protests earlier in November also drew participation from Hindu groups such as Yuva Rajput Sabha, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Rashtriya Bajrang Dal, and Movement Kalki, who have argued that the admission list should reflect the local region’s demographic balance and cultural context.
Opposition leaders and organisations also engaged with administrative authorities, submitting memoranda and calling for policy reviews, though officials emphasised that constitutional secular principles and merit-based admissions govern all government-recognised educational institutions.
As of late December 2025, protests remain active with ongoing calls for action on the admission list. Law enforcement continues to oversee public demonstrations, ensuring that demonstrations are managed without major escalations. To date, no official revocation of the admission list has been announced and the dispute continues to be a topic of local political contention and public debate in Jammu and Kashmir.
(Rh/TL)
