A major row has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir over the first MBBS admission list of the newly opened Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Katra. Several political and social leaders have questioned the fairness of the selection process after it was revealed that a large majority of the selected students do not belong to the Hindu community, even though the institute is funded entirely by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), a Hindu religious body.
The institute, built with nearly Rs 500 crore collected through donations from Hindu devotees, was seen as a proud example of faith-driven development. But the admission list for the 2025-26 session has stirred controversy. Out of 50 selected students, 42 belong to the Muslim community, 7 are Hindus, and one is Sikh, as per reports.
Many have called this imbalance surprising and hurtful to those who helped build the institution through years of contributions and offerings at the Vaishno Devi shrine.
Leaders call for review and transparency
Senior BJP leader Dr Parneesh Mahajan strongly criticised the selection ratios and called for an open review of the admission process carried out by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE). He said the figures have created anguish among devotees and raised doubts about the fairness of the procedure.
Dr Mahajan emphasised that while his party supports merit-based admissions, there should also be transparency and a balance that respects the emotional connection of millions of Hindu devotees with the temple and its institutions.
He urged the Omar Abdullah-led government and JKBOPEE to review the parameters used for deciding seat allocations. According to him, justice and openness are crucial in institutions linked to faith, especially when they are fully built and funded by a particular religious community’s donations.
Political and public reaction grows stronger, Bajrang Dal threatens protests
The outrage has gone beyond politics, with several Hindu organisations expressing concern that a Hindu-administered and Hindu-funded religious institution has given very limited space to Hindu students. Jammu Rashtriya Bajrang Dal President Rakesh Bajrangi said the outcome was discriminatory and urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to act immediately. He warned of large scale protests if corrective steps are not taken soon.
Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir: Jammu Rashtriya Bajrang Dal President Rakesh Bajrangi said that the new Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board medical college allotted 42 seats to Muslims, 7 to Hindus, and 1 to Sikhs, calling it discriminatory. He urged Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to act… pic.twitter.com/t0AVzlbTbQ
— IANS (@ians_india) November 5, 2025
The Bajrang Dal has argued that this issue is not just about one admission list but about respecting the sentiment behind the donations that made the College possible. They point out that every penny the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board earns came from Hindu devotees, not taxpayer funds, and that the institution should reflect some level of consideration for its founding community.
Legal and Administrative concerns
Legally, India’s Constitution does not allow reservations based only on religion. Some states have minority sub-quotas within other categories, but Jammu and Kashmir has no such rule, and SMVDIME does not fall under any government quota. This makes the uneven representation even more confusing for many devotees and leaders alike.
For many Hindu organisations, this controversy has reopened old wounds in a region still healing from decades of displacement and marginalisation of the Hindu population. Community leaders are calling for transparency and balance to restore public trust. They say that while merit must always come first, faith-driven institutions should not forget the very people who helped build them.
