JNIMS Students Must Not Become Victims of the Government’s Regulatory Violation

The appointment of IAS officer Salam Somorjit as Director-in-Charge of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) on May 4, 2026, is a blatant violation of National Medical Commission (NMC) norms. This move has put Manipur’s only state-run medical college at serious risk. If the NMC takes strict action against JNIMS for this non-compliance, the ones who will suffer the most are the innocent students pursuing MBBS, postgraduate, and other medical courses.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has clear and powerful enforcement mechanisms under the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023, and the Teachers Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations, 2025. If the Commission penalises JNIMS for appointing a non-qualified Director, the fallout could be harsh and immediate.

These include heavy monetary fines of up to Rs 1 crore per violation — something the NMC has already imposed on several medical colleges for other regulatory breaches like stipend disclosure failures. The Commission may also issue formal warning notices with strict deadlines to correct the violation. In more serious cases, it can drastically reduce the sanctioned intake of MBBS and postgraduate seats in the coming academic years.

In extreme or repeated violations, the ultimate blow could be suspension or complete withdrawal of the institute’s recognition.These are not empty threats. Similar cases in other states have already triggered show-cause notices, seat cuts, and temporary withdrawal of permissions, throwing medical education into chaos.

For JNIMS, any such punishment would strike hard at the heart of the institution. Current students would face grave uncertainty over the validity of their examinations, internship completion, and the recognition of their hard-earned degrees. Future aspirants from across Manipur would find fewer seats available, shattering the dreams of countless young minds who wish to serve the state as doctors.

On a broader level, the overall quality of medical education would decline due to falling faculty morale, administrative uncertainty, and serious disruptions in clinical training and patient care.

Our students joined JNIMS with complete faith that the Manipur Government would protect the institution’s NMC recognition and uphold its standards. They should never be forced to pay the price for an administrative blunder.

Knowingly or unknowingly about the NMC rules, the Manipur Government has issued the appointment order ignoring the clear NMC guideline issued on June 30, 2025, which mandates that the Director must be a medical faculty member with at least 10 years of teaching experience, including five years as a Professor.

Administrative skills of an IAS officer may be useful in many areas, but medical education demands leadership rooted in academic and clinical expertise. Warnings from the JNIMS Teachers’ Association and Students’ Association were already on record, yet they were conveniently ignored.

JNIMS is not just any institution, it is the very backbone of medical education and healthcare manpower in Manipur. With 150 MBBS seats and several postgraduate programmes, its survival and reputation directly decide the future of our state’s healthcare system. The government must act now with utmost seriousness.

It should immediately engage with the NMC, seek proper regularization or approval, and appoint a qualified medical academic who fully meets the required criteria. Compliance with regulations must take priority over short-term administrative convenience.The issue is still fresh. Timely and responsible corrective steps can prevent any major crisis.

Our students did not create this problem — they must not suffer because of it. The Manipur Government has a sacred duty: Save JNIMS, protect the future of its students, and safeguard Manipur’s only government medical college.

Naorem Mohen

Naorem Mohen is the Editor of Signpost News. Explore his views and opinion on X: @laimacha.