When Merit Becomes a Crime: Medical College Closed in Jammu After 42 Muslim Students’ Selection Sparks Protests
Closure of SMVD Medical College in Jammu after 42 Muslim students were selected on merit sparks outrage. CM Omar Abdullah calls it a humanitarian and academic issue.
The closure of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVD Medical College) in Jammu and Kashmir has triggered widespread concern, raising serious questions about merit, discrimination, and the future of medical education in the region. The decision has directly impacted students who secured admission through NEET on pure merit, making the controversy a national talking point.
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42 Muslim Students Selected Out of 50 Seats
According to verified admission details, the first MBBS batch of SMVD Medical College had 50 students, selected strictly through the NEET counselling process. The selected candidates included:
- 42 Muslim students
- 7 Hindu students
- 1 Sikh student
All admissions were made purely on merit, following national medical admission norms. However, the religious composition of the selected students became the center of controversy, leading to protests by certain political and right-wing groups.
Medical College Shut After Protests
Following the protests, the National Medical Commission (NMC) cancelled the permission granted to the medical college. This decision has left students, faculty, and staff facing deep uncertainty, despite the institution being fully functional.
Students who worked for years to qualify for NEET now fear losing their academic future due to circumstances beyond their control.
CM Omar Abdullah Calls It a Humanitarian Issue
Reacting strongly to the closure, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the situation as a humanitarian and academic crisis, not a political matter.
He stated that students who qualified through NEET must be accommodated immediately in other recognised medical colleges, preferably close to their homes, so that their careers and years of hard work are not destroyed.
The Chief Minister also questioned the logic behind shutting down a functioning medical college in a country where thousands of students struggle every year to secure medical seats.
Allegations of Religious Bias Intensify
The incident has sparked outrage on social media and among civil society groups. Many have alleged that the college was targeted only because a majority of selected students were Muslims.
Reports of some right-wing elements celebrating the closure and distributing sweets have further intensified anger, with critics calling it a disturbing reflection of growing intolerance in the education sector.
Students Bear the Cost of Politics
Educationists and activists have stressed that students should never be punished for administrative or political failures. The affected students neither violated any rules nor received unfair advantage; they simply cleared NEET on merit.
Several voices have warned that if such trends continue, colleges and universities may increasingly become battlegrounds of religious politics, threatening India’s academic integrity.
Future at Stake
As uncertainty looms, the key demand remains clear:
- Immediate adjustment of all affected students into recognised medical colleges
- Protection of merit-based admissions
- A fair and transparent review of the college closure decision
The SMVD Medical College episode has now become more than an administrative issue—it has evolved into a larger debate about justice, merit, and the role of religion in education.
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