It is nothing short of a national irony that while the world turns with renewed seriousness towards alternative and traditional systems of medicine, India-the birthplace of Ayurveda-struggles to properly run one of its own Ayurvedic institutions. The present plight of Jammu Ayurvedic College is a textbook example of administrative apathy, systemic neglect and chronic violation of regulations, all of which have pushed a promising institution onto the brink of academic collapse. Established in 2017 with high hopes, the College today operates on crutches. Its journey over the last decade reflects a consistent pattern: ignoring norms, bypassing merit, failing to create essential infrastructure and, above all, lacking the will to correct long-standing flaws. The result is an institution that-despite being in a Himalayan region rich in medicinal flora, despite having potential for research that could rival the best Ayurvedic centres globally-continues to choke under mismanagement.
The most glaring anomaly remains the absence of a qualified Ayurvedic Principal. For nearly a decade, the Government has allowed an allopathic doctor-principally the head of GMC Jammu-to hold additional charge of the Ayurvedic College. This violates the National Commission of Indian System of Medicines Act and insults the very essence of Ayurveda. How can someone with no grounding in Ayurvedic principles provide academic vision, regulate departments, or design the curriculum of a traditional medicine system? It is structurally wrong, ethically questionable, and academically disastrous.
As if this were not enough, the College suffers from a dramatic shortage of faculty. In a shocking makeshift arrangement, doctors from field postings are asked to come twice a week to deliver lectures. The norm of one lecturer for every five students is nowhere close to being fulfilled. Instead, departments are often headed by doctors with specialisations entirely unrelated to the subject-surgeons teaching anatomy or paediatricians handling wellness centres-making a mockery of academic standards.
Equally disturbing is the manner in which contractual appointees were elevated to the rank of Associate Professor and even considered for Professorship. NCISM regulations clearly prohibit temporary or contractual engagements from being used as eligibility for senior designations. Yet, these norms were blatantly flouted. Meanwhile, PSC exams for regular posts were never conducted, despite applicants having submitted forms twice. The fee they paid still lies unrefunded. Such administrative stagnation points to either inefficiency or deliberate avoidance-both unacceptable in an educational institution.
Institutionally, the college is crippled by a lack of essential facilities. Astonishingly, it does not have its own associated hospital in Jammu. The Ayurvedic Hospital at Indira Chowk was shifted nearly 40 kilometres away to Sanghani in Akhnoor. How can a distant hospital realistically support daily clinical training for students? No medical college can function meaningfully without a proximate, fully functional teaching hospital, diagnostic laboratory, drug testing centre or an animal house for research. Jammu Ayurvedic College has none of these in workable condition.
It is hardly surprising, then, that the College received a C Grade from NCISM for 2024-25. If meaningful corrections are not made immediately, the institution risks harsher sanctions, including freezing admissions or derecognition of courses. The warnings are clear, the shortcomings obvious, yet action on the ground remains absent. This neglect becomes even more tragic when placed in context. Jammu and Kashmir’s Himalayan landscape is home to countless medicinal plants. RRL Jammu (now IIIM) has, in the past, developed notable Ayurvedic formulations. The region has enormous potential to emerge as a hub of integrative medicine-if only its Ayurvediccollege were strengthened rather than ignored. Patients often come seeking specialised, long-term Ayurvedic therapies unavailable elsewhere; they leave disappointed, not due to lack of tradition, but due to lack of institutional capacity.
If authorities are truly committed to promoting Ayurveda, they must begin by reshaping the institutional foundations. There is no virtue in dragging this crisis on indefinitely. The Government already knows the problems; what is needed now is will, urgency and accountability. The restoration of Jammu Ayurvedic College is not just about fixing one institution-it’s about honouring India’s medical heritage and ensuring that Ayurveda, in its own homeland, receives the respect and infrastructure it deserves.
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