New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has reaffirmed that admissions to the newly established Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence must follow academic merit. His remarks come amid an escalating political row over the inclusion of Muslim students in the college’s first batch.
The Chief Minister stated that the institution was created through legislation passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and that the law provides no scope for restricting admissions on religious grounds. He questioned the basis of the objections being raised and reminded detractors that the university’s founding legislation makes merit the only qualifying standard for entry.
The issue has gained momentum after protests by several right wing groups in Jammu. The BJP has submitted a memorandum to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha demanding that the admissions of Muslim students be reversed. These groups argue that because the college was set up by the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and funded through contributions from Hindu devotees, seats should be reserved exclusively for students who share the same faith.
Opposition leaders have claimed that the public does not accept students from a particular community being admitted to the institution. They insist that only those who uphold devotion to Mata Vaishno Devi should be granted admission.
Official sources, however, maintain that the Vaishno Devi medical institute is not categorised as a minority institution and therefore must follow standard regulations laid out by the National Medical Council. Admissions have been based on the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test merit list, with 85 percent of seats reserved for Jammu and Kashmir domiciles. The college’s first batch includes 50 students, among whom only eight are Hindu students from Jammu.
The Chief Minister warned that allowing religion to influence institutional decisions can set a precedent that would affect other sectors of governance. He urged political parties to review the foundational legislation, which clearly states that admissions must be rooted in merit alone. He added that dissatisfaction should not arise simply because the merit based process has resulted in a diverse student intake.
