BS RAWAT
The Medical Council of India (MCI) has stated that any qualification obtained from medical colleges located in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (PoJKL) shall not entitle a person to practice modern medicine in India.

In a public notice, India's top medical education regulator said the entire territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh is an integral part of India.

"Any medical institution in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (PoJKL) requires permission and recognition under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. Such permission has not been granted to any medical college in PoJKL," said the notice issued by Dr R K Vats, the Secretary General of the MCI.

“Therefore, any qualification obtained from medical colleges located within these illegally occupied areas of India shall not entitle a person for grant of registration under Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 to practice Modern Medicine in India,” it added.

The move comes after a physician who obtained a medicine degree from a medical college in PoK sought registration from J&K medical council.