Jammu- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said there can be no allocation of seats on religious lines in the proposed Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) at Katra, asserting that admissions have to remain strictly merit-based under NEET guidelines.

“Any institution advocating religious-based allocation must first stop taking government grants and return the land received free of cost, before amending its internal rules for exclusive admissions,” the CM said while speaking to reporters during his visit to Rajouri.

Referring to the ongoing public debate over reservation of MBBS seats, Omar said the law, the Constitution and the university's own policy do not allow division of seats on the basis of religion.

“When the decision to establish a medical college in the university was taken, it was done with full understanding that seats cannot be divided on religious grounds. They approved the NEET system, and in NEET exams, only merit counts,” he said.“Students who secured marks and got admission cannot now be punished because their religion is different.”

On infrastructure concerns in the region, Omar raised the issue of deteriorating road conditions due to ongoing widening, four-laning and tunnel projects. He said the existing stretches should be properly maintained until the new tunnels become functional.

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