Srinagar, Nov 24, KNT: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding MBBS seats at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, stating that the admission process followed by the Shrine Board’s medical college carries no provision for any religion-based reservation.
He said the established procedure at the institution specifies “quantitative merit-based” selection of candidates and relies on transparent criteria rather than any preferential category linked to faith. According to him, the rules guiding the institute clearly outline a uniform admission framework that treats all applicants equally.
The Chief Minister also noted that public discussions about the issue have intensified in recent days, prompting the administration to reiterate the official position. He added that the Shrine Board-run medical college operates under guidelines designed to ensure fairness in professional education and that these guidelines remain publicly accessible.
His remarks come at a time when political parties and civil society groups have expressed competing opinions about the admission structure at the institution. The clarification is intended to settle doubts over whether any community-based preference exists in the allocation of seats.
