BJP calls specifying of location legislative overreach
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Oct 29: With an initial outlay of Rs 50 crore, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today announced that the J&K National Law University (NLU) will start functioning from April next fiscal year, likely from the Ompora area of district Budgam.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
Speaking in the Legislative Assembly while responding to a private member’s resolution moved by MLA Nizamudin Bhat, Omar said the earlier announcement in this regard was not limited to papers. “There is nothing to oppose in this resolution; we have no objections to it,” he said.
“We will consider where the Law University is going to come up. As Mankotia said, there are many aspects that need to be taken into account. I have discussed it with the Chief Justice, and in the coming days we will see how the proposal can be taken forward. The Bar Council of India also has a role to play,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the location for the permanent campus will be finalized later and for now, it will be made operational from a rented accommodation.
“The campus will not come up soon; it will take time. We plan to start it in the next financial year. Classes and admissions will begin from rented accommodations. Officers have been asked to identify potential sites. In my view, Ompora, Budgam, is a suitable location,” he said.
The CM noted that the site at Ompora was earlier proposed for a software technology park but was not cleared by the Air Force.
“It is a sprawling campus, currently unused. If no better site is available, The Law University can start functioning from there until a permanent campus is developed,” he added.
On the delay in visible progress, as highlighted by the members, Omar said administrative processes are not always reflected in daily media updates.
“After the announcement, a committee of senior officers under Additional Chief Secretary Shantmanu was formed. They have been holding meetings, studying models from other States, and finalizing required notifications and structures,” he said.
He said an initial outlay of Rs 50 crore has been approved and the University will attract talent and help students from J&K pursue legal education locally.
“We have made a start, and in the next fiscal year it will not be difficult to begin classes from rented premises,” he said.
Earlier, MLA Hilal Akbar Lone had moved an amendment seeking the university’s establishment in Bandipora. However, he withdrew the amendment after the Chief Minister’s address and before the resolution was put to vote.
The resolution was passed unanimously in the House and adopted.
Omar said the Government was committed to expanding higher education infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir.
“Earlier, we had only one university, which later saw new branches. Now we have Agricultural Universities and new Medical Colleges, even in far-flung areas. We also got IITs and IIMs,” he said.
Referring to the setting up of Central Universities (CUs) and IIMs during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s tenure, Abdullah said the then J&K Government had requested two central universities-one each for Jammu and Kashmir-to avoid regional discord.
“I met the Prime Minister and told him not to put us in a difficult position. If we have to decide where to set them up, it will create unnecessary regional issues. So we requested two CUs, one for each region,” he said.
Earlier, while moving the resolution, MLA Nizamudin Bhat urged that the J&K National Law University at Srinagar be established without delay, noting that funds had already been approved. He stressed and urged the House to establish the University in Bandipora as he termed the district “neglected.”
“This House unanimously resolves to impress upon Government to initiate process of establishing the Jammu and Kashmir National Law University at Srinagar, without any further delay, as the funds earmarked for the first phase have already been provided.”
MLA R.S. Pathania supported the proposal but cautioned against specifying a location in the resolution, calling it “legislative overreach.”
Among those who spoke on the resolution were MLAs, Mir Saifullah, Sajad Shaheen, Narinder Singh Raina, Nazir Ahmad Khan, Shamim Firdous, Shabir Ahmad Kullay, Altaf Ahmad Wani, and Ajaz Ahmad Jan.
Several members supported Bhat’s resolution, suggesting that Srinagar’s central location and accessibility made it the most suitable place for the university, benefiting students across the region.
Others, including Altaf Ahmad Wani, demanded that it be established in South Kashmir, while Ajaz Ahmad Jan proposed the Pir Panjal region as a suitable location. Sajad Shaheen suggested that the university should be set up somewhere between the Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
The post J&K Law University to start functioning from next year appeared first on Daily Excelsior.