A National Law doesn't belong to any region but to the Students and constitution itself.
The debate over the location of the National Law University (NLU) of Jammu and Kashmir has regrettably degenerated into a regional contest between the Kashmir and Jammu provinces, reducing an institution of national importance to a matter of regional pride. A National Law University is not an asset to be claimed by any one region; it is an institution of legal expertise that must be structured in accordance with constitutional principles and academic excellence. This regional friction should not displace the core mission this prestigious institution was meant to serve.
A Prolonged Delay
A National Law University has been a long-held dream for the students of Jammu and Kashmir. The concept first took shape in 2018 under the then BJP–PDP led state government. However, due to the political and constitutional developments of 2019, the project remained unrealized. Nearly six years later, following the assembly elections in the Union Territory, the Hon'ble Chief Minister announced an allocation of ₹50 crore for the establishment of NLU J&K. It was further stated that the university would begin functioning in April 2026 from an interim campus in Budgam. While this announcement marks a significant step forward, it has also reignited the debate of regionalism between the Kashmir and Jammu divisions.
A Premature Protest
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is perhaps the only place in the country where protests for a second NLU have begun before the first has even commenced operations. In other Indian states, NLUs began through a gradual process, and many still function from interim campuses. Insights can be drawn from the Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai; established in 2014, it functioned for years before its official campus was announced, and even now, it is transitioning into its own permanent facility. It is deeply regrettable that members of the student community in Jammu are taking such an impatient view when only the initial announcement has been made. This regional posturing will not yield positive progress for the Union Territory; instead, it will only result in further delays.
A Legally Sound Solution
A plausible resolution to this debate lies within the framework of the Jammu and Kashmir National Law University Act, 2018 itself. Section 3 of the Act empowers the Government to establish more than one university by notification in the Official Gazette. A plain reading of this provision not only dispels the controversy surrounding the NLU but also shifts the discourse from regionalism back to the institution's true purpose.
India already has several states with multiple national institutions of the same kind. A pertinent example is Maharashtra, where three National Law Universities function simultaneously in Mumbai, Nagpur, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The Maharashtra National Law University Act, 2014, contains a provision similar to Section 3 of the J&K NLU Act 2018, allowing for the establishment of multiple universities. Additionally, some states feature NLUs with multiple campuses, such as the Gujarat National Law University (GNLU).
The case for J&K is similar: more than one university can be established. However, the student community must understand that multiple NLUs will not appear overnight. As in other states, this will require time and the combined efforts of both the students and the government.
The solution to this debate must be a collaborative one. The government should act decisively to bring students from both regions on board by providing assurances for the eventual establishment of universities in both Kashmir and Jammu. Simultaneously, students should remain patient and allow the university to first become operational in one location. If left unresolved, this debate will not limit itself to Jammu and Srinagar but could extend to every corner of the Union Territory, ultimately resulting in the loss of a prestigious institution.
Author is a Law Student at the University of Kashmir. Views are Personal