11 J&K colleges lose nursing council's recognition over violation of rules

In a major setback for nursing students in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Nursing Council (INC) has withdrawn all-India recognition of 11 nursing institutions in the Union Territory, restricting their graduates to practice only within J&K.

Notably, Jammu and Kashmir is the third state after Bihar and Assam which is facing the tough stand of the nursing council. Earlier, 32 nursing institutions across Bihar and Assam were found unsuitable for conducting nursing programmes.

The order is expected to affect hundreds of nursing students currently enrolled in these colleges, as their qualifications will carry limited value outside the Union Territory.

The Council, in a Gazette notification published on September 14, said the action was taken under Section 14 of the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947, after repeated notices to the J&K Government and the J&K Nurses & Midwives Council went unanswered.

The INC said the institutions had not applied for statutory inspection for several years and were found “deficient/unsuitable” to run nursing programmes.

“A copy of the notice dated 08/11/2024 was also sent to the Jammu and Kashmir Nurses & Midwives Council. In the notice issued, the State Government was requested to submit its recommendations to the Council regarding the suitability of the nursing institutions,” the withdrawal order read.

However, as the Council did not receive any remarks or recommendation from the UT Government or the Jammu and Kashmir Nurses & Midwives Council regarding the suitability of 11 specific nursing institutions, it considered the matter in its entirety.

As per the order, with effect from March 19, 2025, students graduating from these 11 nursing colleges will be eligible for registration only in J&K, and not in other states or union territories.

The nursing council has clarified that the withdrawal was necessary to maintain the quality and credibility of nursing education in India. It stressed that institutions failing to adhere to mandatory statutory requirements, inspections, and educational standards would not be permitted to continue.