Jammu and Kashmir's Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College in Reasi has been forced to close its doors just months after admitting its first batch of students, with aspiring doctors blaming political interference for cutting their academic journey short. The National Medical Commission (NMC) revoked the college's permission to offer MBBS courses, citing infrastructure shortcomings, but protests fueled by regional and communal tensions appear to have accelerated the decision.

The controversy ignited in late 2025 when the college enrolled 50 students, including a significant number from Muslim-majority areas, prompting backlash from BJP leaders and local right-wing groups in Jammu. Demonstrators claimed the admissions bypassed regional quotas meant to prioritize Jammu's residents, leading to rallies, road blockades, and calls for the institution's immediate shutdown. Protesters even distributed sweets in celebration when the NMC order came through on January 6, 2026, turning a moment of institutional pride into chaos.

Dozens of students, who had just settled into world-class facilities inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016, now face relocation to overcrowded colleges like Government Medical College Jammu or Srinagar. "We've lost our community, our labs, everything," shared one student from Srinagar, echoing the heartbreak felt across families as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vowed to secure alternative seats despite limited availability. With J&K grappling with a doctor shortage—roughly 60 physicians per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 90—the closure exacerbates an already strained healthcare system.

Omar Abdullah slammed the protesters, accusing them of sabotaging progress and sarcastically suggesting they "celebrate with fireworks," while Congress leaders questioned the BJP-led central government's role in the health ministry's oversight failure. This incident underscores a recurring pattern where political rivalries in sensitive regions like J&K derail educational initiatives, much like past quota disputes in other states. As students pack up, calls grow for policy reforms to shield merit-based admissions from local agitations.