Rs 150 cr requirement projected for permanent campus
*Early approval necessary to obtain BCI, UGC nods
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 2: The process for establishment of a National Law University in Jammu and Kashmir has reached an advanced stage with the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Higher Education Department formally submitting a detailed blueprint to the Government after thoroughly analyzing the models of such universities functioning in other States of the country.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that following the announcement of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Budget speech for 2025-26, the Law Department, in coordination with the Higher Education Department, studied the institutional frameworks of several National Law Universities including Dr Rajendra Prasad National Law University, Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh and other recently established institutions.
“After comprehensive deliberations, a proposal has now been placed before the Chief Minister, who is also Minister Incharge Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, for final decision. As part of the proposal, the Government has been requested to identify a suitable site for the establishment of a permanent campus of the National Law University,” sources said, adding, “pending construction of infrastructure, it has been suggested that temporary accommodation be provided so that the process of obtaining statutory approvals and accreditations is not delayed”.
The proposal clearly states that early allocation of temporary premises will enable the Higher Education Department and Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to approach the Bar Council of India (BCI) for professional recognition of Law Degrees and the University Grants Commission (UGC) for academic validity and eligibility for grants. “Unless these permissions are initiated in time, the Government will not be able to meet its target of making the university functional,” sources explained.
They further disclosed that bare minimum requirements of infrastructure and manpower have also been projected in the proposal in consultation with the Higher Education Department. The Chief Minister has already instructed these two departments to proceed in a mission mode so that the Budget announcement is translated into reality within the shortest possible time-frame.
While mentioning that with world-class training aligned to contemporary standards, the varsity will empower future legal professionals and enhance justice delivery, the Chief Minister, in his Budget speech, had proposed a provision of Rs 50 crore for this transformative initiative.
“In the proposal minimum area required for establishment of permanent campus of the National Law University, courses to be started at the initial stage and intake capacity of the students have been projected”, sources said while disclosing that for permanent campus of the varsity around Rs 150 crore would be required apart from the recurring expenses.
“With submission of the proposal, the ball is now in the Government’s court to immediately finalize a location and temporary accommodation so that the groundwork for statutory approvals can commence without delay,” sources asserted.
It is worthwhile to mention here that the Jammu and Kashmir National Law University Bill was passed by the Legislative Assembly in the year 2018. However, the then Governor raised certain clarifications over the legislative proposal as a result of which no further progress could be made.
However, the bill was given approval by last Governor of erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir in October 2019-before formal implementation of J&K Reorganization Act, 2019.
Following bifurcation of erstwhile State into two Union Territories, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs formally adapted the J&K National Law University Act but only in the context of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and even amended certain provisions thus bringing the legislation at par with the regulations for such institutions in other parts of the country.
In the un-amended Act, Chief Minister was mentioned as Chancellor of the Law University despite the fact that in other parts of the country Chief Justice of the concerned State holds this position. Through gazette notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs substituted the term “Chief Minister” by “the Chief Justice” in Section 8 of the Act while as the term of “Chief Justice was substituted by “the Chancellor” in Section 12, Sub-Section (1), Clause (d).
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