In a sudden and controversial move, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed a medical college in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, to shut down its MBBS program merely four months after granting it permission to operate. The decision, taken just four days after a hastily conducted inspection, has ignited a firestorm over procedural lapses and alleged prejudice, casting a shadow over the government's promises for the region.
A Swift Reversal and a Breach of Due Process
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) received the NMC's approval to run its MBBS course around four months ago. However, following an inspection conducted on short notice, the regulatory body issued an order to discontinue the course. The most glaring aspect of this decision is the complete bypassing of standard due process. The college was not served any show-cause notice, nor was it given any opportunity to appeal the drastic order, effectively short-circuiting established legal and administrative protocols.
While the NMC has officially justified its action by pointing to deficiencies such as a shortage of tutors, inadequate library resources, and insufficient lecture theatres, the timing and context of the move have led many to question the stated reasons. The controversy stems from the composition of the institute's first batch of 50 MBBS students, where 44 students were Muslim, a result determined solely by a national entrance exam.
The Undercurrent of Religious Bias and Political Pressure
This demographic outcome did not sit well with a coalition of nearly 60 organizations with affiliations to the RSS and BJP. These groups have argued that since the college was established using donations from Hindu pilgrims to the Vaishno Devi shrine, the student intake should reflect the faith of the donors. They subsequently launched protests demanding the removal of students from a particular religion.
The deeply disturbing turn of events is that the country's apex medical education regulator appears to have capitulated to these exclusionary demands. The decision to shut down the entire course, rather than address specific infrastructure gaps, is seen as a direct response to the protests. This action stands in defiance of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to equality and expressly prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion.
Broader Consequences for Students and "Naya Kashmir"
The immediate cost of this decision will be borne by the 50 students, whose academic careers and futures are now in jeopardy, and by the faculty of SMVDIME. Scattering these students to other institutions is not a solution but a violation of their rights, reinforcing separation over equality.
On a larger scale, this incident strikes at the heart of the "Naya Kashmir" narrative championed by the Centre since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Promises of a region more integrated with India and unshackled from its turbulent past are now under scrutiny. The NMC's move risks stoking distrust and alienation in the Valley, undermining the very integration it seeks to promote. It poses a serious question mark over the assurances of inclusive development given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
The institution now has little choice but to seek judicial intervention to prevent further damage. Legal experts emphasize that while the Constitution allows for minority institutions to preserve language or religion, it mandates a strict policy of no discrimination, no religious headcount, and no exclusions in all other educational spaces. The events in Katra represent a stain on this constitutional spirit. A swift reversal is not just necessary for the affected students but is crucial for the ideals of the nation itself.
