Srinagar, Nov 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said any attempt to grant MBBS seats at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence on the basis of religion rather than merit would violate the Constitution and require approval from the Supreme Court, as he took strong exception to the Bharatiya Janata Party's objections over the institute’s first admission list.
Omar, speaking to reporters after the e-auctioning of seven limestone blocks in Anantnag, Rajouri and Poonch, said he failed to understand the controversy over the selection of students belonging to a particular community in the institute’s maiden MBBS batch.
“When the Assembly passed the Bill for the establishment of the university, where was it written that students of any particular religion would be excluded? It was always made clear that admissions would be given on the basis of merit,” he said.
“Some people do not seem to like merit-based admissions. If you want admission without merit, take permission from the Supreme Court. As far as I know, you cannot grant admission by setting aside merit,” Omar said. “There is now a demand that religion should decide admission, which is not permissible under the Constitution.”
The Chief Minister questioned the long-term impact of such a precedent. “If tomorrow the government starts making decisions solely on the basis of religion, what happens to ration distribution, welfare schemes or policing? Our Constitution has the word secular. If that is not acceptable, remove it first,” he remarked.
Abdullah also said that LoP Sunil Sharma should examine the Act passed by the Assembly. “Being the LoP, he can check whether it is written anywhere that seats will be distributed on the basis of religion. It clearly speaks of merit. What is the fault of the students who worked hard and secured their seats?” he said.
Responding to claims that the Lieutenant Governor had assured the BJP delegation of looking into their demand for revocation of the list, Omar asked, “How can anyone promise such a thing? Then openly say the hospital was built from shrine donations and that Muslims and non-Hindus should not receive treatment there,” he said.
Asked about the proposal to hike power tariff, the CM dismissed reports of a 20 per cent surcharge being imposed on electricity during peak consumption hours. “No electricity hike is proposed, and I do not know where this rumour started,” he said. “I am also the Power Minister. No such discussion has taken place, let alone approval.”
He said the budget had already clarified that there would be no increase in the power tariff. “Unnecessarily, this has become an issue,” he added.
Shafat Malik
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