Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 14: President of Sanatan Dharma Sabha Jammu & Kashmir, Surinder Bhatia, expressed deep concern over the growing frustration among Hindu girls who are being denied admission in the Medical College run by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVSSB).
While talking to media persons here today on this occasion along with Sabha office-bearers including vice president, Mahant Singh Raina, chief patron, Sanjay Gupta, general secretary, Dilip Gupta, secretary, Atma Ram Sagar he said the Sabha strongly opposes any discrimination against the Sanatan community. He said as per information received, out of 50 available seats, 36 students have been admitted out of which 33 belong to Muslim community. It has also come to light that students who qualify in the JEE exam do not get seats, whereas seats are being filled through the website without transparency. This clearly indicates that the system is arbitrary and the administration is functioning in an unrestrained manner without proper counselling, resulting in adverse outcomes.
He said that the devotees at the Darbar of Mata Vaishno Devi collectively contribute nearly Rs 700 crore annually. These contributions are used for the Shrine Board’s academic institutions, nursing colleges, and other institutions. In such a situation, the current admission process of the Kashmir-based Vaishno Devi Nursing College is deeply concerning. It is surprising that no seat has been allotted based on merit since 1986. For nearly 40 years, Hindu students have been continuously deprived.
Sanatan Sabha strongly urges the Lieutenant Governor to direct that institutions run by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) must grant at least 90% reservation to Hindu students, just like institutions such as CMC Vellore and other Christian-run colleges provide.
The properties of the Shrine Board should be used for the welfare of the Sanatan community. This is supported by the Supreme Court judgment in the Himachal Pradesh Shrines case of 2018, which clearly states that religious institutions and their assets must be used properly for the religious, cultural, and social upliftment of the concerned community.
He said the matter of admissions to the Medical College should be taken seriously and the admission process must be regularized.
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