Jammu/Srinagar, Jan. 8 -- While the National Medical Commission has withdrawn the permission granted to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Reasi to run the MBBS course with 50 seats after glaring shortcomings during surprise inspection, the experts are still hopeful of the revival of the institute that has potential to become renowned health care facility like SKIMS, Soura. The NMC's decision comes amid the raging row over 42 Muslim candidates, mostly from Kashmir, securing seats in the medical college through the NEET exam. Several Jammu-based outfits have sought reservation for Hindus in the institute and shifting of Muslim students. To safeguard the interests of students already admitted for the academic year 2025-26, the UT officials have been authorised to accommodate these students in other medical institutions within the Union Territory. "There are now two options to save the medical college-either J&K government headed by CM Omar Abdullah gives an NOC to government of India (GOI) for 100% central counselling from the next session or LG Manoj Sinha, who is the chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, takes a call to make this medical college a deemed-to-be-university under University Grants Commission (UGC)," said a top official, on request of anonymity. To become a deemed-to-be-university, the medical college need to have at least five faculties. The university right now has three--nursing, para-medic and social sciences. "We can add public health and one more faculty besides removing our shortcomings in a year and get the status of a deemed to be medical university," he said. Another top official said, "An NOC to the Union ministry of health and family welfare for 100% central counselling will enable students from across the nation to get admission here. Confining the counselling process to board of professional entrance examination (BOPEE) caused this imbalance and subsequent public outrage." In counselling through BOPEE, largely Kashmiri Muslim students get admissions in medical colleges, he added. About the students, he said, "They will be adjusted in other government medical colleges in the UT. Now, they will have to pay just nominal fee to study in a government facility. At the Vaishno Devi medical college, they had to pay 5 lakh per annum as tuition fees." The hospital (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Naryana Superspecialty) has 371 beds and we had plans to add 250 more to make it a big health care facility in the region, he said. On Wednesday, the first batch of 50 students were relieved from their regular classes following the NMC's decision. The political parties in J&K, including National Conference(NC) and Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) reacted harshly to the development. Chief minister Omar Abdullah said that in other parts of the country people fight for getting medical colleges but here a fight was fought for closing downone. "You (BJP) played with the future of the children of J&K and if you feel happy over it then burst fire crackers,"said Omar. The CM slammed the BJP and Sangharsh Samiti for getting a medical college shut in the name of religion. Omar said that he has already asked health minister Sakina Itoo to adjust the first batch students in government medical colleges nearest to their homes. Javed Rana, NC leader and minister for Jal Shakti, said, "In a democratic country, if we talk about things that admissions in educational institutes be made on religious basis, then it is devastating for the health of a society," Rana said. PDP leader and MLA Pulwama, Waheed Para called it unfortunate. "If a party associated with the government at Centre will believe in institutional divisions that meritorious students will be denied admission in a big university because of their religion or their being Muslims and cancel the registration of the institute, it sends a very negative message in the whole of J&K and whole of India," he said. Meanwhile, the people across Jammu celebrated the recent development....