Closure of SMVD Medical College injustice to students, says Omar Abdullah

Jammu, Jan 8: Calling it an injustice to students, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday reiterated that the cancellation of recognition of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College has unfairly impacted meritorious students who had secured admission through the NEET examination.

Talking to reporters in Jammu, Omar Abdullah said that the students had qualified NEET on merit and should not be made to suffer for reasons beyond their control. He said it was now the responsibility of the government to ensure that their academic future remains protected.

“The students have passed NEET on merit. It is our responsibility to accommodate them, and we will do so by placing them in a medical college close to their homes so that they are not affected,” he said.

The Chief Minister, however, stressed that the larger issue was the injustice caused by the closure of a functioning medical college. He said that across the country, students struggle for years to secure admission in medical colleges, making the decision to shut down an operational institution deeply troubling.

“Ours is perhaps the only place where a fully functional medical college has been closed,” Omar Abdullah said, adding that such a move sends a discouraging signal at a time when the country needs more doctors and a stronger healthcare infrastructure.

He said the government would take all necessary steps to safeguard the interests of the students. [KNT]