Academic Uncertainty for Medical Students at HIMSR

Ongoing Governance Dispute

New Delhi: Medical students at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR) are currently experiencing significant academic uncertainty due to a protracted internal governance dispute. This situation has led to faculty resignations, withdrawals of seats, and repeated postponements of examinations. In response, a medical association has urged the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the government to take swift regulatory action to address these issues.

Concerns Raised by the Democratic Medical Association

The Democratic Medical Association (DMA India) has formally addressed the NMC, Chief Minister, Health Minister, Directorate General of Health Services, and Jamia Hamdard University in a letter. The association emphasized that students enrolled at HIMSR gained admission through the NEET-based, legally sanctioned counseling process. However, ongoing disputes within the Hamdard National Foundation have severely disrupted the institution’s academic operations, affecting hundreds of students.

Admissions Amid Uncertainty

Continuing Academic Instability

According to DMA India, the academic instability at HIMSR has persisted since August 2024. The association noted that despite students securing admissions through the NEET counseling process, they continue to endure prolonged uncertainty and repeated disruptions due to internal governance conflicts. The letter stated, “Students joined HIMSR through valid, government-regulated counseling. However, unresolved internal disputes have created instability, anxiety, and uncertainty regarding institutional governance and continuity.”

Faculty Resignations and Academic Disruptions

Impact on Teaching and Training

From August 2024 to 2025, the academic administration faced significant challenges following the resignation of approximately 37 faculty members, which adversely affected teaching, clinical training, and patient care services. Ongoing litigation has further stalled decision-making processes, fostering an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty among students and faculty. The letter emphasized, “Medical education—particularly MBBS and postgraduate training—cannot function under such instability without causing irreparable harm to students’ education and training.”

Seat Withdrawals and Institutional Crisis

Consequences of Consent of Affiliation Denial

In September 2025, the withdrawal of 150 MBBS and postgraduate seats exacerbated the crisis, according to the DMA. The refusal to issue the Consent of Affiliation (CoA), which is essential under NMC regulations, has led to severe disruptions in academic continuity, an increase in faculty resignations, and damage to the institution’s credibility. The association pointed out, “Students, who are neither parties to nor beneficiaries of the dispute, are now bearing the heaviest burden.”

Examination Postponements and Student Stress

Impact on Mental Well-Being

Another critical issue raised by the DMA is the repeated postponement of examinations since October 2025, which has negatively impacted students’ mental health, academic progress, and future licensing opportunities. The letter highlighted, “Examinations have been repeatedly postponed due to governance and administrative failures. The absence of clear timelines has caused extreme mental stress, anxiety, and uncertainty regarding academic progression, results, and future careers.”

DMA’s Call for Immediate Action

Demands for Regulatory Intervention

In their representation, the DMA has called upon the NMC, the Government of NCT of Delhi, and other relevant authorities to take immediate and decisive action. Their demands include direct intervention to resolve the governance dispute, restoration of the 150 MBBS and postgraduate seats for the 2025-26 academic year as per NMC regulations, and measures to ensure academic continuity, such as fixed examination schedules and timely results.

Commitment to Students

“The Democratic Medical Association stands firmly with the students and will continue to pursue this issue until decisive corrective action is taken,” stated the association. “Authorities must act now to prevent irreversible damage to medical education, institutional credibility, and the futures of hundreds of young doctors.”

Recent Developments

Supreme Court Ruling

Recently, Medical Dialogues reported that the Supreme Court has approved the addition of 49 postgraduate medical seats at HIMSR for the NEET PG counseling for the academic year 2025-2026. The apex court directed the NMC to reinstate these 49 MD seats, which had been previously withdrawn based on communications from Jamia Hamdard (Deemed University).