In a devastating blow to aspiring doctors, the inaugural batch of MBBS students at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Katra, Jammu & Kashmir, were instructed to pack their bags and vacate the campus by 2 pm on Friday. This directive came after the National Medical Commission (NMC) abruptly withdrew its Letter of Permission (LoP) to the college, citing serious infrastructure deficiencies.
Dreams Packed Away With Lab Coats
Among the students was Bilkis Manzoor from Budgam in central Kashmir. She neatly folded her white lab coat, a symbol of her nascent medical career, packing it away with her books and belongings. Bilkis, who would have been the first doctor in her family, now faces the painful journey home. The hardest part, she confesses, will be facing her parents who sent her off with immense excitement and hope. Unable to secure a train ticket, she had to arrange alternative transport back to Budgam.
The NMC had initially granted permission to SMVDIME in September last year, allowing the admission of 50 students for the 2025-26 academic session following an expert inspection. The batch, selected through NEET rankings, had begun classes in November, albeit two months late. Of the 50 students, 44 were Muslim, a demographic fact that had sparked protests by pro-RSS and pro-BJP groups outside the college gates.
A Generation's Aspirations on Hold
The emotional and academic toll on the students is profound. Saqib Farooq from Kulgam, South Kashmir, another first-generation medical student, described the day he cleared NEET as one of "unmatched joy" for his family. "There is a craze about medicine. The respect the profession brings to the whole family…" he said, his voice heavy with disappointment. His parents managed to arrange the annual fee of Rs 4.5 lakh with considerable difficulty.
Another student, who wished to remain anonymous, cleared NEET on his fourth attempt. After years of relentless study, he had finally felt he could "breathe properly." "Now, I am going back home in shock and uncertainty. I don't know when I will find admission to another college," he lamented. Students fear that any further delay in securing new seats will leave them irreparably behind in the rigorous first-year curriculum.
"We Never Discussed Religion in Class"
Despite the external protests focusing on regional and religious demographics, students from within the campus paint a picture of a cohesive academic environment. Misbah, the only Muslim girl from Jammu in the batch, stated that inside hostels and classrooms, conversation rarely strayed from studies. "Medicine is a rigorous course, and it deserves undivided attention from every student," she asserted.
Manit, a Hindu student from Udhampur, called the decision to cancel admissions "reckless." He emphasized that even as social media buzzed with discussions on classroom demography, "no one within the premises discussed anyone’s religion." He also challenged the NMC's cited reasons, stating the students had every facility required for their course and felt "better off" than peers in other colleges.
Government's Response and Accountability
The Jammu & Kashmir administration has stated that the displaced students will be accommodated in supernumerary seats at other government medical colleges within the Union Territory. However, the process and timeline remain unclear, adding to the students' anxiety.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah commented on the situation, stating that accommodating 50 students elsewhere is "not a problem for the government." However, he demanded accountability for the damage inflicted on the careers of these students and future aspirants who might lose seats due to the college's closure. As the students disperse, their dreams paused, the incident raises serious questions about the processes governing medical education approvals and the human cost of their failure.
