NLU Row in J&K: Lessons from IIT Bhubaneswar

Published on: 15 Jan 2026

Introduction

The debate surrounding the establishment of a National Law University (NLU) in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has unfortunately devolved into a regional contest between Kashmir and Jammu. This has reduced a prestigious institution of legal education to a matter of territorial pride. It is essential to recognize that a National Law University does not belong to any specific region; rather, it belongs to the public and must be structured in accordance with constitutional principles.

A Prolonged Delay

The idea of establishing a National Law University in J&K first emerged in 2018 under the then BJP-PDP-led state government. However, due to significant political and constitutional developments in 2019, the project remained unrealized. Nearly six years later, following the Assembly elections in the Union Territory in 2024, the Chief Minister announced an allocation of ₹50 crore for the establishment of NLU J&K. The University is expected to begin functioning from April 2026 at an interim campus in Budgam.

Impact of Regionalism

While this announcement marks a significant step forward, it has unfortunately reignited a territorial contest between the Jammu and Kashmir regions. It is crucial to acknowledge that the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly its youth, has faced sustained adversity for over four decades, including terrorism, law-and-order challenges, and the rising menace of drug abuse. Reducing an institution of national importance to a regional dispute does not offer a viable or prosperous future for the youth of the Union Territory.

Framing Public Institutions

It is deeply regrettable that despite decades of hardship, public institutions continue to be framed through the lens of regionalism rather than their constitutional purpose. A National Law University should serve the educational and institutional needs it was created to address, rather than become a pawn in regional politics.

Multi-Campus Models

A legally sound resolution to the ongoing debate can be found within the framework of the Jammu and Kashmir National Law University Act, 2018. Section 3 of the Act empowers the Government to establish the University by notification in the Official Gazette, specifying its headquarters, and also authorizes the approval of additional campuses. Section 8 establishes that the officers of the University, including the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, exercise authority over the University as a whole, not over a specific location.

Learning from IIT Bhubaneswar

India already has several institutional precedents where national institutions operate successfully through multi-campus models while preserving academic integrity and regional balance. Institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) demonstrate that physical decentralization need not dilute institutional unity.

The IIT Bhubaneswar model serves as a particularly instructive example. IIT Bhubaneswar operates with a permanent main campus at Argul, which serves as the academic and administrative core, alongside a specialized city campus in Bhubaneswar focused on research, innovation, and outreach. Both campuses operate under a single statutory and governance framework without prejudice to either location.

Proposed Multi-Campus Structure for NLU J&K

Drawing from the IIT Bhubaneswar model, NLU J&K can adopt a similar multi-campus structure to resolve the current impasse. A plausible and pragmatic model could include:

• A designated permanent academic and administrative campus, housing undergraduate teaching, core postgraduate programs, and central governance.
• A specialized statutory campus dedicated to advanced legal research, judicial training, law and governance centers, and faculty-led research institutes.

Both campuses can operate under a single governance structure, with common authorities, funding mechanisms, and infrastructure guarantees, ensuring that no location-based hierarchy or rivalry emerges. The Government should issue a formal notification clearly defining the multi-campus structure and the functional roles of each campus to prevent future ambiguity.

Shifting the Discourse

By adopting such a framework, the discourse can shift from the question of “who gets the NLU” to the more constitutionally relevant inquiry of “how should the NLU function best.” The Government must act decisively to adopt this multi-campus model, as public institutions are not regional trophies; they are constitutional assets meant to serve the collective future of Jammu and Kashmir.

Conclusion

As universities in Jammu and Kashmir register low student enrollment, experts attribute this trend to low job opportunities and a brain drain. It is imperative that the establishment of NLU J&K is approached with a focus on its educational mission rather than regional disputes. The future of the youth in this region depends on the decisions made today regarding their educational institutions.

Note: The establishment of a National Law University in Jammu and Kashmir should prioritize constitutional principles and the educational needs of its students over regional sentiments.