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Hunger strike in Jammu over MBBS admissions at Vaishno Devi medical college
The admissions controversy at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College has intensified after a group launched a hunger strike in Jammu, demanding cancellation of recent MBBS admissions or closure of the institute.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that controversy erupted across Jammu following admission of 42 Muslim students out of a total of 50 students in the first batch to the medical college.
Dozens of protesters gathered earlier outside Lok Bhavan and set ablaze an effigy of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, demanding revocation of the MBBS admission list. The protests were started by right-wing Hindu groups which later led to the formation of the Sangarsh Samiti and its leaders have already held talks with Lt Governor and leaders of the central government including Union health minister.
Tensions further rose over the MBBS admissions row with protestors planning to step up agitation. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti had announced an escalation of its protest against the first MBBS admission list of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College, objecting to the admission of 42 Muslim students among 50 selected candidates. The group is demanding that the admission list be rescinded and that admissions be restricted to Hindu candidates, triggering widespread controversy in Jammu.
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At a core committee meeting in Srinagar, Samiti leaders, along with representatives of the Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha, alleged that the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board acted unfairly and deviated from its mandate. They accused the Board of misusing shrine funds over the past two decades for infrastructure projects such as hospitals and universities instead of promoting Sanatan Dharma–related activities.
Now, during the recent hunger strike call, the Protesters have alleged imbalance in representation, claims that have been rejected by academic sources and student bodies, who maintain that the process is religion-neutral and fully merit-driven. Legal experts have warned that cancelling merit-based admissions would violate constitutional principles and undermine the integrity of competitive examinations. Authorities are monitoring the situation, stating that admissions made under established rules cannot be annulled without valid legal grounds.
According to a recent report by Kashmir life, the matter surrounding admissions at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College has escalated further, with the Yuva Rajput Sabha launching a hunger strike in Jammu on Monday, demanding either cancellation of the recent admissions or closure of the medical institute.
The selection triggered objections from certain groups, who alleged that the admission outcome did not reflect what they termed as balanced representation. Protesters claimed that students from particular communities were allegedly disadvantaged, despite the admissions being conducted through a centralised and regulated process.
Academic sources and student bodies, however, have rejected these allegations, stating that the admission process is religion-neutral and entirely merit-driven. They pointed out that the counselling and seat allotment followed nationally prescribed norms, leaving no scope for discretionary or selective admissions. “The system does not record religion. Selection is based solely on merit, category and eligibility,” a senior academic official said.
Legal experts have also cautioned that cancelling admissions secured on merit would violate constitutional principles of equality and fairness, besides undermining the integrity of competitive examinations. They warned that such demands could set a dangerous precedent by questioning lawful admissions after due process.
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The hunger strike has heightened tensions in Jammu, prompting close monitoring by the administration to ensure law and order. Officials have indicated that admissions made as per established rules cannot be annulled without solid legal grounds.
The protesters, seated with placards and banners, alleged injustice in the admission outcome and raised slogans seeking immediate intervention by the authorities. The hunger strike marked an escalation of the ongoing dispute over the selection process, with the group warning that the agitation would continue if their demands were not addressed.
