Matter referred to Govt for allocation of supernumerary seats
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Jan 21: Fate of the MBBS students admitted in de-recognized Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) hangs in balance as the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) has ruled out fresh counselling for supernumerary seats.
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JKBOPEE is learnt to have informed the Health and Medical Education Department, Union Territory of J&K, that it is not empowered to conduct fresh counselling or allocate supernumerary MBBS seats for the academic session 2025-26.
Pertinent to mention that while withdrawing Letter of Permission granted to SMVDIME for starting MBBS course with an intake of 50 seats for the academic session 2025-26, National Medical Commission (NMC) had said that the students already admitted to the institute would be adjusted in various Government Medical Colleges across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir through supernumerary seats.
Thereafter, the Health and Medical Education Department acted promptly and through office communication No. ME/1/2026-02 (CC-7718124), Dated : 11-01-2026, formally asked the JKBOPEE to conduct counselling of these 50 students for allocation of MBBS seats to them in the Government Medical Colleges under supernumerary seats.
However, following detailed deliberations, the Board came to the conclusion that it cannot go beyond the prescribed timeline for the current academic session. The Board observed that it is bound by the counselling schedule issued by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, and cannot go beyond the prescribed timeline for the current academic session.
In an official communication addressed to the Administrative Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, No: BOPEE-Exam/113/2025 (7764584, dated 21-01-2026, JKBOPEE states that the matter was placed before the Board for detailed deliberations and the Board has observed that it is constrained to conduct any new counselling for the year 2025-26 as it is not mandated to go beyond the counselling schedule issued by Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), MoHFW, New Delhi for current academic session.
“Moreover, as per directions of MCC, the data of 1,410 MBBS candidates, including 50 candidates of SMVDIME under question has also been updated on their (MCC) portal on the last date of joining i. e, 31st of December, 2025”, further reads the communication, a copy of which is in the possession of the Excelsior.
The Board has also made it clear that the creation and allotment of supernumerary seats does not fall within the jurisdiction of JKBOPEE.
“Therefore, the fresh allocation of supernumerary seats to these candidates who were earlier allotted SMVDIME by JKBOPEE be made at the Government level in consultation with the NMC and the respective medical colleges in the UT of J&K,” advises the Board in its reply to H&ME Department.
It may be recalled that acting on the basis of a surprise inspection, which revealed serious deficiencies in faculty strength, clinical material and infrastructure at SMVDIME, the National Medical Commission (NMC) on January 6, 2026 withdrew the Letter of Permission (LoP) granted to the Medical College. Consequent upon withdrawal of the LoP, the students already admitted to the institute were to be adjusted in various Government Medical Colleges across the Union Territory of J&K through supernumerary seats.
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