Merit over Mandate
The recent controversy surrounding the admissions to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, has ignited a crucial debate on the sanctity of merit-based education in India. The medical college, which admitted its first batch of MBBS students, became the centre of a political storm after the majority of its seats were filled by Muslim students, primarily from the Kashmir Valley, based purely on their performance in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). This unfortunately sparked protests from certain Hindu-affiliated groups and political factions who argued that an institution funded by donations from Hindu devotees to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board should reserve seats for Hindu candidates.
This contentious issue is a stark reminder that the fundamental principles governing professional education—especially medicine—must be upheld above all parochial considerations. The row is not merely about a seat allocation list; it is a battle for the soul of the country’s secular and meritocratic educational framework.
The cornerstone of modern medical education in India is the NEET. This was introduced in 2013 to bring uniformity, transparency, and fairness to the admission process. NEET aims to ensure that only the most academically capable students are entrusted with the immense responsibility of becoming a doctor. The National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines mandate that admissions to all medical colleges, including private institutions like SMVDIME that do not possess official minority status, must be based on the NEET merit list and subsequent counselling.
The selection of students at SMVDIME strictly adhered to this national mandate, allocating seats based on the candidates’ NEET rankings within the J&K domicile quota. The resulting demographic composition—where high-scoring students from a particular region and community secured the majority of seats—is a direct, non-discriminatory outcome of a rigorous, merit-driven system.
Upholding the NEET selection process is paramount. Deviating from merit-based admissions to accommodate regional or religious demands undermines the very purpose of a national entrance exam and introduces subjective bias into a system designed for objectivity. As the institution does not have official ‘Minority Institution’ status under the law, any attempt to implement religion-based reservations would be unconstitutional and discriminatory under Articles 15 and 29 of the Constitution of India.
Philanthropy Cannot Dictate Policy
A central argument put forth by the protesting groups is that since the medical college is financed by the donations made by Hindu devotees to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, it should prioritize candidates of that faith. This argument dangerously confuses philanthropy with public policy.
When a charitable or religious trust establishes an educational institution—even with funds garnered from a specific community—the institution often loses the right to apply religion-based criteria for admissions unless it formally secures a ‘Minority Institution’ status under the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) Act. In the absence of such status, the institution is bound by the national education and medical council rules, which necessitate a secular admission policy based on merit.
Allowing donors or their ideological representatives to dictate the admission process based on the source of funding is a direct threat to the independent functioning of educational bodies and an attempt to circumvent the law. It sets a precarious precedent where every institution founded by a specific community could be pressurised to exclude others, thus leading to the fragmentation of the education system along religious lines.
Good doctors, not religious enclaves
The ultimate objective of any medical college is to train competent, compassionate, and highly skilled doctors. A doctor’s proficiency is measured by their scientific knowledge, clinical acumen, and ethical conduct, not their religious affiliation. In a diverse country like India, the demand for high-quality medical professionals far outweighs the existing supply. Compromising the merit principle to satisfy sectarian demands is a disservice to the entire nation.
The concern raised that this controversy might inadvertently push qualified Muslim students towards “dubious colleges” in India or abroad due to a perception of bias in their home state is a serious one. A merit-based, non-discriminatory system is the best defence against such alienation and is crucial for keeping India’s brightest talent within the country.
The current row forces us to reflect on our constitutional values. An education system that begins to divide its aspiring doctors based on faith is an education system that promotes radicalization and communal thinking, contrary to the secular fabric of the nation. It’s time to affirm that in the sphere of life-saving medical science, merit, and merit alone, must be the sole passport to entry. The SMVDIME administration and the government must stand firm on the principle of NEET merit to protect the integrity of medical education and reinforce the message that public and quasi-public institutions are for all citizens, irrespective of their belief.
Prof Upendra Kaul, Founder director Gauri Kaul Foundation
