NEW DELHI: The National Medical Commission’s Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) has withdrawn the Letter of Permission (LoP) granted to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence to run an MBBS course with 50 seats for the 2025-26 academic year, after a surprise inspection found serious violations of minimum standards.The January 6 order takes immediate effect. NMC officials said the institute was noncompliant with key requirements, including infrastructure and faculty strength, following multiple complaints.To safeguard students already admitted for 2025-26, authorities have been directed to shift them to other medical colleges in J&K as supernumerary seats, as per norms.The move comes amid wider scrutiny of the college. Earlier, NMC had rejected institute’s request to place all 50 MBBS seats under All-India Quota through Medical Counselling Committee, saying seat-sharing policy cannot be altered for a single institution.Located near the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi, the institute was sanctioned 50 MBBS seats on Sept 8, 2025 and began operations in Nov from administrative block of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University.The college has also faced protests from Hindu organisations over selection of 43 students from a particular community in its first batch of 50, with allegations that the institute is largely funded by devotees of another faith. College officials said all admitted students were from J&K.With LoP withdrawn, future of institute’s first MBBS batch hinges on swift relocation of students to other colleges.
