Srinagar, Nov 13: MBBS aspirants and their parents on Friday staged a protest at Press Colony, Srinagar, urging the National Medical Commission (NMC) to grant Kashmir Medical College a Letter of Permission (LoP) before the November 16 deadline.

The protesters expressed concern over the five-month delay in securing the mandatory approval, saying the uncertainty was jeopardising the academic future of more than 100 aspiring medical students.
They said their demand was aimed at ensuring that the proposed institution becomes operational and admissions begin within the stipulated timeframe, rather than targeting any individual or authority.
One of the protesting students said they had approached the High Court in September and received a favourable hearing on October 27, but the issue remained unresolved.
"With November 16 approaching and the next court hearing scheduled for November 20, we are worried about losing another academic year. We appeal to the concerned authorities to intervene and resolve the issue at the earliest," the student said.
The aspirants maintained that an early decision would safeguard their academic interests and strengthen medical education infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) extended support to the affected students and urged the Union Health Ministry to intervene in the matter.
AIMSA President Dr Mohammad Momin Khan said approval for the college's MBBS programme would create additional opportunities for students from Kashmir to pursue medical education within the region instead of seeking admission outside Jammu and Kashmir or abroad.
He described the proposed institution as an important opportunity to expand the region's medical education infrastructure and appealed to people to support the students' demand.
AIMSA Chief Advisor Dr Burhan Hameed said the future of more than 100 aspirants could not be left uncertain due to prolonged administrative delays. He called for immediate measures to resolve the issue ahead of the November 16 deadline.
The association has also appealed to Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda to personally intervene and facilitate an early decision, enabling the admission process to move forward.