J&K High Court Bar Association Seeks Proposed NLU's Main Campus In Jammu Instead Of Kashmir Valley, Cites Regional Balance Concerns

The Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association at Jammu has called upon the Union Territory government to locate the main campus of the proposed Jammu & Kashmir National Law University (NLU) in Jammu province, instead of the Kashmir Valley.

In a representation submitted to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Association pointed out that situating the NLU primarily in Kashmir could aggravate existing regional disparities. The representation was signed by the Association's President, Senior Advocate K. Nirmal Kishore Kotwal, and Treasurer Rahul Aggarwal.

The demand comes in the backdrop of the Chief Minister's announcement in October 2025 that the UT's first National Law University would begin functioning from April 2026, initially from a temporary campus at Ompora in Budgam district, with a proposed budgetary allocation of ₹50 crore.

The Bar Association expressed apprehension that students from Jammu and other parts of the country may face difficulties related to climate, accessibility and logistics if the institution is located in the Valley. Emphasising the need for equitable regional development, it suggested that while the Budgam facility may operate as a satellite or interim campus, the permanent headquarters and main campus should be established in Jammu province.

Highlighting Jammu's existing academic ecosystem, the Association noted that the region already hosts premier institutions such as the University of Jammu, IIT Jammu and IIM Jammu, and offers better year-round connectivity and favourable climatic conditions.

According to the representation, establishing the NLU's principal campus in Jammu would be in consonance with the post-reorganisation objective of balanced growth and regional justice within the Union Territory.

The Bar Association conveyed confidence in the Chief Minister's leadership and stated that such a decision would foster unity, fairness and holistic development across Jammu & Kashmir, while also enabling aspiring legal professionals from Jammu to access quality legal education closer to home.