Jammu- Several Hindu groups on Monday staged a joint protest at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Reasi district, urging authorities to revoke the first seat allocation list for MBBS admission.

They also demanded a fresh admission process and a review of existing rules to guarantee sufficient reservation for Hindus in the shrine-funded institution.

The SMVDIME has been sanctioned 50 MBBS seats this year, and admission of 42 students of a particular community in the maiden batch for the 2025-26 academic year sparked a controversy with right-wing Hindu groups questioning the process and demanding the grant of“minority institution” status to the newly established institute.

Officials, however, said admissions were made on merit, as the institute has not been granted minority status and, therefore, no reservation criteria based on religion could be applied.

Accusing the authorities of overlooking representation for Hindus in the institution, the protesters belonging to Yuva Rajput Sabha, Rashtriya Bajrang Dal and Movement Kalki assembled near the university and chanted slogans while moving towards its main gate.

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