KATRA/JAMMU:  The National Medical Commission’s ‘abrupt’ decision to withdraw its letter of permission to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra, just months after the inaugural session of the college commenced, has left the students and faculty staring at an uncertain future.

While the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) cited a failure to meet “minimum standards” following a surprise inspection on January 2, faculty and students allege that the decision was fuelled by local political pressure rather than academic deficiencies.

The withdrawal follows weeks of protests by the Sangharsh Samiti, a conglomerate of right-wing organisations backed by the BJP, demanding the cancellation of the current batch’s admissions to 42 Muslim students from Kashmir, seven Hindus and one Sikh candidate.