CM Omar Abdullah says religion-based admissions possible only If SMVDMC returns land, stops grants
KINS Correspondent
Jammu, Dec 02 (KINS): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the government would have “no objection” to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College Jammu reserving admissions for students of a particular religion, but only if the institution first returns the free land allotted to it and stops receiving government grants.
Addressing reporters in Jammu, Omar said the current laws and constitutional provisions do not permit religion-based admissions in the medical college. “As long as the college is operating on government land and receiving government assistance, it cannot restrict admissions on religious grounds,” he told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS)
The Chief Minister clarified that admissions to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College are strictly based on merit through the NEET examination. “Students who qualify NEET get selected irrespective of their religion. That is what the law mandates,” he added.
He maintained that if the management wants to frame religion-specific admission criteria, they must first “return the free land to the government and stop taking grants. Only then can they make their own rules, subject to legal provisions.”
In Jammu, some Hindu groups have been opposing the admission of Muslim students to the Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College. The BJP has also raised this issue with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and the Centre. (KINS)
