Adjustment of SMVD MBBS students not our domain: JKBOPEE

Srinagar, Jan 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) has informed the Health and Medical Education Department that it was not empowered to conduct any fresh counselling for MBBS admissions for the academic session 2025-26 beyond the schedule notified by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

A local news gathering agency, KNS, reported that in an official communication addressed to the Administrative Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, JKBOPEE said that the matter regarding allocation of MBBS students against supernumerary seats was placed before the board for detailed deliberations.

However, the board said that it was constrained to go beyond the counselling schedule issued by MCC for the current academic session. The board pointed out that, as per MCC directions, the data of 1410 MBBS candidates, including 50 candidates of SMVDIME, had already been updated on the MCC portal, with the last date of joining being December 31, 2025.

JKBOPEE clarified that the creation and allotment of supernumerary seats does not fall within its ambit.

It said that any fresh allocation of such seats to candidates earlier allotted to SMVDIME by JKBOPEE must be undertaken at the government level in consultation with the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the concerned medical colleges in J&K. A rank-wise list of NEET-UG qualified candidates admitted in SMVDIME after counselling by JKBOPEE has been enclosed with the communication for further necessary action.

The issue arose following uncertainty over the continuation of MBBS admissions at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) after the NMC withdrew permission for MBBS admissions for the current academic session, citing deficiencies in infrastructure and faculty requirements.

The development led to demands for the adjustment of students earlier allotted to the institute through the JKBOPEE counselling process.

Amid the unfolding situation, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the affected students would be adjusted in nearby government medical colleges.

However, with the national counselling process for the current academic session having concluded, questions were subsequently raised over whether the JKBOPEE was legally empowered to re-allot or accommodate such candidates in other medical colleges within J&K.

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