Jammu

In a major relief to 50 medical students affected by the withdrawal of approval to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) has scheduled fresh counselling on January 24 to accommodate them in government medical colleges across the Union Territory.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the issue concerning college allocation for the affected MBBS candidates has been resolved. With BOPEE issuing the counselling schedule, the students can now continue their studies, the Chief Minister’s Office said in a post on X.

According to a notification issued by BOPEE Controller of Examinations Prof Gurvinder Raj Verma, the 50 supernumerary seats will be allotted strictly on the basis of candidates’ NEET-UG merit and their preferences among seven newly established government medical colleges. Eight students will be adjusted in Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag, while seven seats each have been earmarked for GMCs in Baramulla, Doda, Handwara, Kathua, Rajouri and Udhampur.

The physical round of counselling will be held on January 24 at BOPEE offices in Srinagar and Jammu. Candidates unable to attend in person may authorise a blood relative to represent them, subject to submission of the prescribed authorisation letter and valid identity proof.

The relief follows the decision of the National Medical Commission’s Medical Assessment and Rating Board earlier this month to withdraw the letter of permission granted to SMVDIME for non-compliance with minimum standards. The NMC had directed that students admitted to the institute be accommodated in other medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir against supernumerary seats.

The admissions had triggered protests in Jammu, with right-wing groups demanding cancellation of the admissions and seeking reservation of seats based on religious grounds. Of the inaugural batch of 50 students, 42 were Muslims, seven were Hindus and one was a Sikh.

Earlier, BOPEE had stated that the creation and allotment of supernumerary seats fell outside its mandate and required a government-level decision in consultation with the NMC. On January 8, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured that the education of the affected students would not be allowed to suffer and that they would be accommodated in nearby institutions through supernumerary seats.