A major controversy has erupted over the admission of the first batch of 50 MBBS students at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), Katra, as only seven of these students were Hindus and one was Sikh.
Various political and social organisations have criticised the admission of 42 Muslim students to the institute, which is primarily funded by the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
The BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Bajrang Dal have questioned the admission list, alleging discrimination.
The MBBS course commenced at this medical college from the academic session 2025-26.
The issue went viral soon after some netizens posted the admission list on social media. Many of them criticised Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, the chairman of the shrine board, for this imbalance.
This medical college is run by the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, a Hindu religious organisation funded entirely by offerings and donations to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
Netizens called the admissions “unbalanced and unfair”. Some argued that medical admissions are based solely on merit, and therefore, religion should have no bearing on the issue.
Former Mayor of Jammu and a senior BJP leader, Rajinder Sharma, on Sunday questioned the admission list. “The SMVDIME should have been declared a minority institute with a larger share for Hindu students.” Local students should get preference in admissions to the institute, he added.
BJP leader Dr Parneesh Mahajan raised serious concerns over the alleged discrimination in the maiden MBBS admission list of the newly established SMVDIME.
He further stated that while the BJP believes in equality and merit-based opportunities, the composition of the list has created a sense of alienation among those who hold an emotional and spiritual connection with the shrine and its institutions.
Shiv Sena Hindustan, Jammu Kashmir, held a meeting under the chairmanship of Pandit Rajesh Kesri, expressing concern over the alleged disparity in admission policies at the medical college in Katra, which is run by the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The meeting highlighted that despite the Shrine Board being a Hindu institution, a disproportionate 80% of seats have been allocated to Muslim students.
Kesri demanded that the Shrine Board should reserve 80% of seats for Hindus, particularly those belonging to the shrine’s traditional families, citing the principle of prioritising the community that contributes to the institution.