Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) has sought criminal action against authorities and beneficiaries involved in the alleged issuance and use of fake disability certificates, following the cancellation of six MBBS admissions at Government Medical College (GMC), Handwara.

BOPEE cancelled the admissions on November 10 after the certificates submitted by the candidates were found invalid during reassessment by the Standing Medical Boards of Government SMHS Hospital, Srinagar, and SKIMS Soura.
The action followed complaints from persons with disabilities (PwDs) questioning the authenticity of the certificates. The six vacated seats have since been allotted to eligible candidates under the four per cent disability reservation quota.
Official sources said the candidates had allegedly obtained the certificates through district medical boards. Three certificates were issued in Kupwara, two in Rajouri and one in Kishtwar.
During reassessment, one candidate's visual disability was found to be zero per cent, while the remaining five were found to have disability levels below the mandatory 40 per cent benchmark.
Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, individuals with less than 40 per cent of a specified disability do not qualify for benchmark disability benefits.
BOPEE Secretary Shabir Hussain Keen said 64 of the 1,600 candidates counselled for medical seats this year had submitted disability certificates, of which six were found to be fake.
He said the Board had approached the Commissioner/Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, seeking action under the Disabilities Act against the candidates and cancellation of the certificates through the concerned Chief Medical Officers.
Section 91 of the Act provides for imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of Rs 1 lakh, or both, for fraudulently availing benefits meant for persons with benchmark disabilities.
Chief Medical Officer Kupwara Dr Zafar Akbar said strict action would be taken against members of the district medical board if they were found to have issued fraudulent certificates. He said three of the invalidated certificates had been issued by the Kupwara board and that the matter would be examined.
Officials from the CMO Rajouri's office also said an investigation would be conducted into the issuance of the two certificates by the district board.
Disability rights activists have termed the cases a serious violation of the rights of genuine candidates and called for a comprehensive probe into the issuance of disability certificates across Jammu and Kashmir.
Social activist Javed Ahmad Tak said the six cases could be only a fraction of a larger problem, alleging that fake certificates had also been used to secure professional admissions and government jobs. He called for independent medical verification of disability claims during admission and recruitment processes.
Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association president Abdul Rashid Bhat demanded an impartial investigation and accountability for doctors and medical board officials found involved in issuing fake certificates.
Another disability rights activist, Naseer Ahmad, said misuse of the four per cent reservation quota deprived eligible persons with disabilities of educational and employment opportunities