The Medical Council of India (MCI) has cautioned the students of J&K and Ladakh not to pursue Medical courses from any institutions in Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PAK).
In a notification issued by secretary general MCI, Dr R K Vats, it has been stated that any qualification obtained from medical college located within these areas shall not entitle a person for grant of registration under Indian medical council Act 1956 to practice modern medicine in India.
“This is to inform all the concerned that entire
territories of UT of J&K and Ladakh are integral part of India. Pakistan is in illegal and forcible occupation of a part of the territory,” the notification reads.
It reads that any medical institution in PAK requires permission for recognition under the Indian Medical Council Act 1956.
“Such permission has not been granted to any medical college in PAK,” it said.
This is the third time that Government of India (GoI) has cautioned students in J&K and Ladakh from pursuing medical courses in institutions of PAK.
In May 2019, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) asked the J&K government to caution Kashmiri students against pursuing courses in Pakistan administered Kashmir (PAK) “because the Government of India doesn’t recognise these courses”.
A letter in this regard was sent to Secretary Higher Education Department (HED) and General Administration Department (GAD) that the students should refrain from enrolling in these institutions.
In June this year, AICTE issued another advisory for students of J&K and Ladakh against opting for higher studies in “unapproved” technical institutions in Pakistan administered Kashmir (PAK).
The advisory stated that PAK was an integral part of Union of India, and educational institutions there have neither been established by government of India nor recognised by statutary authorities including the UGC, AICTE and Medical Council of India (MCI).