In a move that has sent shockwaves through the corridors of medical aspirants and their families, the **MBBS counselling halted** at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra, Jammu & Kashmir, has thrown the academic futures of dozens of students into uncertainty. The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) has refused to conduct fresh counselling for the college’s supernumerary seats, citing a directive from the National Medical Commission (NMC) .
This isn’t just a procedural delay—it’s a crisis where young lives hang in the balance, caught between institutional non-compliance, administrative inertia, and simmering political undercurrents. For students who have spent years preparing for the NEET exam, this sudden halt feels less like a policy decision and more like a betrayal.
Table of Contents
- What Happened at SMVD Medical College?
- Why Was MBBS Counselling Halted? The NMC’s Role
- The Supernumerary Seats Controversy
- Students in Limbo: Voices from the Ground
- Political Undertones: Is Education Being Sacrificed?
- What’s Next for Affected Students?
- Conclusion: A Call for Accountability Over Politics
- Sources
What Happened at SMVD Medical College?
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College, established with much fanfare as a beacon of advanced medical education in the Union Territory, was granted permission to operate by the NMC. However, recent inspections revealed significant lapses in infrastructure, faculty strength, and other critical parameters required under the NMC’s stringent guidelines .
As a result, the NMC formally withdrew its permission for the college to admit new students for the 2025–26 academic year. This decision directly impacted the allocation of 50 supernumerary MBBS seats—extra seats created specifically for the newly established institution.
Why Was MBBS Counselling Halted? The NMC’s Role
The **MBBS counselling halted** because, without NMC approval, no medical college in India can legally admit students. The BOPEE, bound by national regulations, had no choice but to suspend the counselling process for these seats .
The NMC operates under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, which mandates strict adherence to quality standards to protect both student welfare and public health. Its authority is absolute in such matters. According to the NMC’s official stance, institutions must demonstrate “functional adequacy” in teaching hospitals, labs, and faculty before being allowed to run MBBS programs .
SMVD Medical College reportedly failed to meet several of these benchmarks, including maintaining the required student-to-faculty ratio and ensuring adequate clinical exposure for students [INTERNAL_LINK:nmc-medical-college-approval-process].
The Supernumerary Seats Controversy
Here’s where things get murky. The 50 supernumerary seats were allocated by the Government of India as part of an initiative to expand medical education in underserved regions. But once the NMC pulled its approval, the responsibility for these seats was kicked back to the J&K administration.
Instead of reallocating them to other NMC-approved colleges in the UT—a logical solution—the government appears to be in a holding pattern. Critics argue this inaction may be politically motivated, given the college’s symbolic importance in the region. Meanwhile, students who scored high enough to claim these seats are left with nowhere to go.
Students in Limbo: Voices from the Ground
“I scored 612 in NEET. I was told I’d get a seat at SMVD. Now, I’m being told to wait indefinitely,” says Priya Sharma (name changed), a student from Udhampur. “My entire year is wasted. My parents took loans. What do I tell them?”
Such stories are not isolated. Across social media and student forums, a wave of frustration is building. Many fear they’ll have to reappear for NEET in 2026, losing a precious year of their youth and career trajectory—all because of failures that weren’t theirs.
Political Undertones: Is Education Being Sacrificed?
The timing and handling of this issue raise serious questions. SMVD Medical College was inaugurated with high-profile political backing. Its sudden regulatory failure—and the government’s reluctance to swiftly reallocate seats—suggests that institutional accountability is being overshadowed by image management.
Opposition parties have accused the administration of prioritizing optics over student welfare. “This isn’t just about one college,” said a local MLA. “It’s about whether our education system serves students or political agendas.”
While the government claims it’s working with the NMC to resolve compliance issues, students don’t have the luxury of time. Every day of delay deepens their academic and emotional crisis.
What’s Next for Affected Students?
There are three potential paths forward:
- Re-allocation of Seats: The J&K government could petition the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) to transfer the supernumerary seats to other NMC-approved colleges in the UT, such as GMC Jammu or SKIMS Srinagar.
- Conditional Approval: If SMVD Medical College addresses all NMC deficiencies swiftly, it might receive retroactive approval, allowing counselling to resume—but this is unlikely before the academic year begins.
- Legal Recourse: Affected students may file writ petitions in the J&K High Court, demanding either seat reallocation or compensation for lost opportunity.
For now, students are advised to monitor official BOPEE and MCC notifications closely and seek legal counsel if needed.
Conclusion: A Call for Accountability Over Politics
The halting of **MBBS counselling halted** at SMVD Medical College is more than a bureaucratic hiccup—it’s a stark reminder of the human cost of institutional failure. While regulatory bodies like the NMC must uphold standards, governments must act swiftly to protect students when systems break down. Education should never be a bargaining chip in political or administrative standoffs. The students of J&K deserve better than promises; they deserve action, transparency, and a clear path forward.
Sources
- Times of India. “MBBS counselling halted at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College: Is student education being sacrificed for politics?” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/…
- National Medical Commission (NMC). “Establishment of New Medical College Regulations, 2023.” https://www.nmc.org.in/…
- Medical Council of India (Archived Guidelines). Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
- J&K BOPEE Official Website. Notices and Circulars, January 2026.