Hindutva Groups Slam Vaishno Devi Shrine Board  funded Medical Institute Over Muslim Admissions.

VHP – Bajrangdal members protest Muslim admissions in Vaishno Devi shrine-funded Medical Institute. 

Upananda Brahmachari | HENB | New Delhi | Nov 21, 2025::  A controversy has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir over the admission process at the Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Institute of Medical Excellence, a prestigious medical institute funded by donations to the Vaishno Devi shrine. Hindutva groups, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal, have launched a scathing attack on the institute’s admission process, alleging that it has been biased towards Muslim students from Kashmir, depriving the Hindus.

Earlier, Rashtriya Bajrang Dal, staged protests against the admission of maximum Muslim students to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) includining hiring Muslim doctors in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital.

The Controversy

The controversy began when the J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examinations released a list of 50 candidates selected for the institute’s first batch. The list revealed that 42 students were from Kashmir, while only eight were from Jammu. This demographic imbalance has sparked widespread outrage among Hindutva groups, who argue that an institute funded by Hindu devotees should prioritize Hindu students.

The current admission trend has sparked widespread discontent, with 36 students from Kashmir and only three from Jammu having completed their formalities. This stark disparity has become a rallying point for protesters, who argue that reservations should be implemented to ensure Hindu candidates secure a fair share of seats.

Protests and Demonstrations

The VHP and Bajrang Dal have organized protests and demonstrations outside the institute in Katra, demanding that the admission list be scrapped and the institute prioritize Hindu students. The protesters have also burned effigies of Sachin Kumar Vaishya (IAS), the Chief Executive Officer of the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, escalating their campaign.

Allegations of Bias

The Hindutva groups claim that the institute’s admission process has been designed to favor Muslim students, thereby undermining the interests of Hindu students. They argue that the institute, funded by donations from Hindu devotees, has a responsibility to prioritize students from the Hindu community.

Institute’s Response

However, officials familiar with the process have maintained that the admissions were conducted strictly in accordance with National Medical Council guidelines. They explained that all admissions across the 13 medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir are carried out based on NEET rankings, with 85% of seats reserved for Union Territory domiciles and 15% open to candidates from the rest of the country.

With these loopholes in the admission procedures, Muslims in J&K are grabbing most of the facilities in  Hindu shrine-board-administered medical institutions for admission to the MBBS course and even in its faculty positions and employment opportunities.

Interestingly, Muslim bodies that run medical, engineering, and other educational institutions invariably include mostly Muslim students, faculty, and employees, thereby maintaining their community’s interests.

Irony Highlighted

Interestingly, the recruitment process has highlighted the scarcity of Hindu aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir, where they are a minority. This has raised questions about the feasibility of prioritizing students based on their religion or region.

Demand for Minority Status

In light of the controversy, some have suggested that the institute should be granted minority status, which would allow it to reserve seats for students from specific communities.
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_Agency Inputs.