Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday announced that the National Law University (NLU) will begin functioning in the Valley from April next year.
Abdullah made the announcement while responding to a private member resolution moved by Congress MLA from Bandipora, Nizam-Ud-Din Bhat, urging the government to expedite the process of setting up the Jammu and Kashmir National Law University in Srinagar.
“The House unanimously resolves to impress upon the government to initiate the process of establishing the Jammu and Kashmir National Law University at Srinagar without further delay, as funds earmarked for the first phase have already been provided,” the resolution stated.
The Assembly passed the resolution through a voice vote after the Chief Minister said his government had no objection to it.
Highlighting the government’s focus on expanding educational infrastructure, Abdullah said, “We want to expand it, and we are trying.”
Regarding the location, the Chief Minister said discussions would be held with the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court and the J&K Chief Secretary. “We have to establish it and spend the money, but others also have a role in the process. There’s been no external pressure on where it should be set up. For now, we will begin operations from a rented facility to start admissions and classes,” he said.
Abdullah further announced that the university would start functioning from Ompora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district — a site earlier earmarked for a software technology park but later abandoned after objections from the Air Force over possible interference with communication systems.
“That campus is vacant. If everything goes as planned, we should be able to start classes by April next fiscal in a rented accommodation,” he said, adding that if no better alternative was found, the NLU would continue at that location.
The Chief Minister said the establishment of NLU would benefit local students who currently have to pursue law education outside Jammu and Kashmir.
Responding to concerns over the delay, Abdullah said the work was ongoing within the civil secretariat. “If we start sharing daily updates, you’ll get tired of hearing them,” he remarked.
