The National Medical Commission late Tuesday withdrew its Letter of Permission (LoP) granted to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) to run an MBBS course for the 2025-26 session on the grounds of serious deficiencies in its infrastructure, including faculty strength and clinical material, among other things.
The students admitted to the MBBS course at SMVDIME for the academic year 2025-26 based on their respective merit in NEET, as per NMC directions, will be accommodated by the competent authority in other government institutions within the Union Territory as supernumerary seats.
NMC allowed the college to conduct the MBBS course, admitting 50 students, in September last year, after it issued an LoP based on a detailed inspection by its team of experts. Out of the 50, 44 Muslim students were selected on the basis of their merit in NEET.
The action was taken after several complaints of inadequate infrastructure, insufficient clinical material, and a shortage of faculty and resident doctors were received over the last two weeks, according to the apex medical education regulator.
“The assessment report submitted by the team of assessors conclusively established that the complaints were true and substantiated. The deficiencies observed were gross and substantial. Continuation of the institution under such circumstances would have seriously jeopardised the quality of medical education and adversely affected the academic interests of the students,” a Union Health Ministry official said.
When such complaints arise, medical colleges are usually given hearings and time to fulfil the deficiencies before any action is taken.
Over the last few years, online inspection of documents, CCTV footage from the hospital, and Aadhaar-based attendance of the faculty members have been used to conduct online inspections, with hundreds of old and new colleges receiving letters about deficiencies.
Almost all of these colleges retain their recognition after hearings before the regulatory body, and then the Union Health Ministry.
From a shortage of teachers to a lack of infrastructure
According to the NMC letter issued to the principal of the medical institute, its team found glaring shortcomings in the medical college infrastructure, including a 39 per cent deficiency in teaching faculty and a 65 per cent shortage of tutors, demonstrators, and senior residents.
The letter said that the outpatient department recorded fewer than 50 per cent of patients, below the minimum required number, while bed occupancy was just 45 per cent, below the mandated 80 per cent. Intensive Care Units also showed an average bed occupancy of around 50 per cent, it pointed out.
Also Read | Vaishno Devi medical college: Protests distant noise in campus harmony of classes, bhajans
The report also highlighted gross inadequacies in infrastructure, noting that student practical laboratories and research labs were not available in some departments, lecture theatres did not meet minimum standard requirements, and library resources were far below norms, with only 50 per cent of books available against the required number and just two journals against a requirement of 15.
Essential facilities, such as an ART centre, an MDR-TB management facility, adequate operating theatres, and separate male and female wards, were also found to be missing or inadequate.
However, officials at the medical college told The Indian Express that there were no deficiencies in infrastructure. They said the NMC team conducted a surprise inspection when nearly 50 per cent of their faculty was on leave due to winter vacations.
“We were informed about the inspection on the phone only 15 minutes before the arrival of the inspection team, and we tried to call back the faculty members who had been on leave,” an official at the medical college said.
Meanwhile, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti, a group of nearly 60 pro-RSS and pro-BJP organisations, claimed that the surprise inspection was carried out at its instance.
Also Read | After row over admitting Muslim students, protesters seek closure of Vaishno Devi medical college
The Samiti, which was set up to spearhead the agitation against admission of Muslim students from Kashmir into the medical institute, initially demanded shifting of students from Kashmir admitted in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence to other colleges in the UT as it had been set up based on offerings made at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine by Hindu pilgrims from across the country.
The Samiti’s youth wing on Tuesday held a demonstration near the civil secretariat to press its demand, and its convenor, Colonel (Retired) Sukhvir Mankotia, warned of intensifying the agitation over the matter.
