Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SVDIME) located in Katra, Jammu is in the headlines at the moment. The reason is its first admission list of MBBS course, which has created controversy in the entire Jammu and Kashmir. In this list of colleges, out of total 50 seats, Muslim students have got 42 seats and Hindu students have got only 8 seats.

This medical college is run by the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, which is entirely a Hindu religious institution and runs on funds from offerings to Mata Vaishno Devi. In such a situation, when the admission list came out, there was an uproar on social media. People raised the question, “When the college is run by a Hindu Trust, why did Hindu students get so few seats?”

Many local organizations and netizens have described it as “unbalanced and unfair”. At the same time, some people say that medical admission is completely based on merit, hence religion should have no importance in it.

What is the root of the dispute?

The matter started when the admission list of the college went viral on social media. According to the data, 42 out of 50 Muslim students were selected, while Hindu students got only 8 seats. On this, Jammu Rashtriya Bajrang Dal President Rakesh Bajrangi expressed strong protest and said that this decision is discriminatory and sought intervention from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

Many people on social media raised questions as to why the representation of Hindu students is so low in a college funded by a Hindu religious board. Some people said it was against the purpose of the Shrine Board while some called it a flaw in the NEET counseling system.

Religion has no role in the admission process

The rules for admission to medical colleges under NEET UG are very clear. Admission is based only on merit and rank obtained in the examination, religion or any other criterion has no place in it. Every medical college has to follow the procedure prescribed under NEET. In private colleges, half the seats are filled through “All India Quota” and the other half through “State Quota”. There are some local variations in this process in Jammu and Kashmir, but merit remains the biggest basis. The reservation policy is applicable only to caste categories like SC, ST, OBC and Economically Weaker Section (EWS). There is no reservation on religious basis.

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More than 40 people died in landslides in Vaishno Devi Marg in Katra in Jammu and Kashmir and in Doda district, while many others were seriously injured. Since this big disaster, questions were arising that when the Meteorological Department had already issued a warning, fearing disaster, then why did the Vaishno Devi Yatra not be stopped? Why was it played with the lives of devotees? All these questions were asked by targeting the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, because the responsibility of the journey is of the Shrine Board.

Now refuting these allegations, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has given its reply on Thursday (August 28). It has been clarified by the Shrine Board that no warning of the Meteorological Department was ignored. The board says that the pilgrimage was postponed in the afternoon before cloudburst and landslides on 26 August. Security of devotees has been the priority of the board.

There was a landslide due to cloudburst in Ardh Kunwari
However, the Shrine Board did not give any information about the number of deaths in this disaster. Let me tell you, the landslide due to cloudburst in Ardhkunwari located in the Trikuta hills of Katra region had caused heavy damage to the temple route. In this, 34 pilgrims were killed, while 18 others were injured.

Tirthayatra was running normally till 10 am
In fact, since yesterday, some media reports are alleging that the journey was continued at the cost of the meteorological warning and the security of the pilgrims. The Shrine Board termed these allegations as false and said that it was clean and favorable for pilgrimage till about 10.00 am on August 26. During this time the journey continued normally. During this time helicopter services were also going on.

The board clearly stated that it had deployed Enforcement Staff and Disaster Management Teams on the travel route under its SOP. There was a widespread security system. All the meteorological updates were being closely monitored. As soon as moderate rain estimated, registrations were stopped immediately.

‘Never before is there a possibility of landslide’- Shrine board
Most of the passengers were getting down from the track after seeing Vaishno Mata. By then, thousands of passengers had completed their pilgrimage and were staying in the shades on the old track. These were the places where there was no possibility of landslide before. These shades have been built in the safest areas of the track to protect the devotees.

At the same time, the new tracks built between Katra and Ardh Kunwari are sensitive and there is a possibility of landslide on them. This route was closed from August 24 to protect the pilgrims.