Arvind Gupta
arvindgupta1969@gmail.com
Following a 2025 announcement by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Jammu and Kashmir National Law University (NLU) is in the process of being established and is set to start functioning from April 2026 from a temporary campus in Budgam (Kashmir Valley), supported by a 50 crore budget. While the establishment of NLU in Kashmir is a welcome step, ensuring equitable institutional development across both regions of the Union Territory is equally important. Establishing a National Law University in Jammu region would therefore be a strategic and balanced step towards the strengthening of legal education, better governance, regional development, and access to justice in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The absence of a similar premier institution in the Jammu region creates geographical, educational, and developmental imbalance. Establishing an NLU in Jammu would address these disparities and contribute significantly to legal education and governance in the region. For the establishment of National Law University in Jammu region, the Bhartiya Janta Party is committed to contest for the logical conclusion and in this regard we demand ‘the Mehr Chand Mahajan National Law University, for Jammu’to empower the students of Jammu region for the long term stability, governance and socio-economic progress of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir consists of two major regions Kashmir and Jammu, each with distinct demographic, cultural, and administrative characteristics. Currently, the only NLU being established in Srinagar, students from the Jammu region will face logistical and socio-economic challenges when pursuing legal education in the Valley. A National Law University in Jammu would ensure equitable access to high-quality legal education for students from district Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Rajour and Poonch.
The NLU system in India has revolutionized legal education since the establishment of National Law School of India University in Bengaluru in 1986, under the leadership of Prof. N.R. Madhava Menon, and was modeled on premier institutions such as the IITs and IIMs. These universities produce top lawyers, judges, policymakers, and academics. A second NLU in Jammu would increase the number of seats available to students from the UT and neighboring states such as Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, thereby broadening opportunities for aspiring legal professionals.
Jammu hosts major judicial institutions including the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (winter seat) along with numerous tribunals, legal offices and administrative institutions. This naturally makes Jammu an ideal ecosystem for a premier legal education institution. An NLU in Jammu could collaborate with courts, bar associations, and government departments to promote legal research, policy analysis, and judicial training. This would strengthen the legal ecosystem of the region and contribute to better governance and rule of law.
Some people might ask why NLU in the name of Mehr Chand Mahajan, and my answer is who else, Mehr Chand Mahajan was not only the first Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir appointed by none other tha the Maharaja Hari Singh ji after the state’s accession to India. He served as Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from October 1947 to March 1948, during the critical period immediately after the Instrument of Accession to India and the outbreak of the first Indo-Pak conflict in the region.
Naming a National Law University in the Jammu region after Mehr Chand Mahajan would be a meaningful tribute to one of the most distinguished jurists and statesmen associated with the history of Jammu and Kashmir. His life and contributions to law, governance, and national integration make him a fitting figure for such an honour. Establishing a National Law University in Jammu in his memory would stimulate economic growth by creating jobs, attracting students and faculty from across India, and encouraging academic tourism. Universities often become hubs of innovation, entrepreneurship, and intellectual exchange. The presence of a premier institution would enhance Jammu’s status as an educational center and support the region’s broader development goals.
Mehr Chand Mahajan was one of India’s most respected legal minds. He later served as the Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India (1954-1956). His contributions to Indian jurisprudence helped shape the early legal framework of independent India. Naming a law university after him would inspire students to pursue excellence in the legal profession. The Jammu region includes many remote and border districts where awareness of legal rights and access to legal services remain limited. A law university could run legal aid clinics, outreach programs, and community legal education initiatives. Such programs would empower marginalized communities and strengthen the delivery of justice in rural and border areas.
Mehr Chand Mahajan had deep cultural and historical ties with the Jammu region. Naming a National Law University after him would reflect the region’s legal heritage and recognize a figure, who represents Jammu’s contribution to the Indian judiciary and constitutional development. Jammu serves as the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir and a major administrative center. Establishing an NLU here would complement existing institutions and help train future administrators, legal advisors, and policymakers who understand the unique constitutional, security, and governance challenges of the region.
National Law Universities are meant to produce future judges, advocates, policymakers, and scholars. Associating such an institution with a legendary jurist like Mehr Chand Mahajan would provide students with a role model who embodied integrity, scholarship, and public service. While National Law University, already stands allotted to Kashmir region, establishing another NLU in Jammu named after Mehr Chand Mahajan would highlight the important role the Jammu region has played in the legal and constitutional history of Jammu and Kashmir.
Following the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India, Jammu and Kashmir has entered a new phase of governance, integration, and institutional rebuilding. In this evolving framework, strengthening premier institutions across both regions of the Union Territory is essential to ensure balanced development. Establishing The Meher Chand Mahajan National Law University in Jammu would not only honour a towering legal personality but also strengthen the intellectual and historical identity of the region. It would serve as a lasting reminder of his contributions to law, governance, and the integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India, while inspiring generations of law students to follow his legacy of justice, public service, reinforcing constitutional values, nurturing future legal minds, and ensuring that the progress of the Union Territory rests on the pillars of justice, knowledge, and regional equity.
(The author is MLA Jammu West)
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