J&K High Court Bar Association Seeks NLU Headquarters in Jammu

The Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association (Jammu wing) has urged the Union Territory government to establish the permanent campus and headquarters of the proposed National Law University (NLU) in Jammu, instead of locating it in the Kashmir Valley.

The representation was submitted to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah following the government’s announcement that the NLU would begin academic operations from April 2026 using a temporary campus at Ompora, Budgam.

According to the Bar Association, situating the principal campus in Kashmir could lead to regional imbalance and create accessibility challenges for students from Jammu and other parts of the Union Territory. The association cited weather conditions, connectivity issues, and logistical concerns as factors that may adversely affect regular academic functioning.

The lawyers’ body emphasized that Jammu already functions as a major educational hub, hosting institutions such as IIT Jammu, IIM Jammu, and the University of Jammu, and offers better year-round transport connectivity. On this basis, it argued that Jammu would be a more suitable location for the NLU’s headquarters and permanent infrastructure.

The association further suggested that the proposed Budgam facility could be retained as a temporary or satellite campus, while the main university structure is developed in Jammu to ensure equitable access to legal education across the Union Territory.

The establishment of an NLU in Jammu & Kashmir would mark the first national-level law university in the UT, aimed at strengthening legal education and reducing the need for students to pursue law degrees outside the region. However, the final decision on the permanent location of the university remains pending.