Rs 50 Cr Law University to be Set Up in Jammu Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday announced that the Jammu and Kashmir Government has sanctioned the establishment of a dedicated Law University in the Union Territory with an initial outlay of Rs 50 crore, aimed at promoting specialised legal education and research in areas such as tribal law, military justice, constitutional studies, and environmental law.

Delivering the keynote address at the North Zone Regional Conference of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) at the SKICC Srinagar, the Chief Minister said that the new university will help bolster legal capacity in a region where defence personnel and tribal communities face unique legal challenges. “This will be an institution for specialised research, rooted in local realities but with national ambition,” Omar stated.

The conference, themed “Reaffirming the Constitutional Vision of Justice for Defence Personnel and Tribals,” brought together members of the judiciary, senior government officers, legislators, tribal representatives, armed forces personnel, and legal professionals from across the country.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister stressed that it was a collective constitutional responsibility to ensure justice and legal aid for both defence personnel and tribal communities—two groups often underrepresented in formal legal mechanisms. “One defends the Constitution with unflinching resolve, the other has long waited for its full embrace,” Omar said.

He emphasised that defence personnel, especially those from remote and conflict-prone areas like Jammu and Kashmir, often face bureaucratic and legal hurdles in matters related to pensions, service grievances, and family welfare. He praised the State Legal Services Authority’s move to amend legal aid rules to include serving and retired personnel and urged the establishment of legal aid clinics in military cantonments and high-ex-servicemen population areas.

Turning to tribal communities, Omar said that although the Government has enhanced capital expenditure for tribal welfare to Rs 98 crore and operationalised several Eklavya Model Schools and mobile medical units, structural legal barriers remain. He advocated for the training of para-legal volunteers from within tribal communities to ensure culturally appropriate legal support.

The CM also called for expansion of digital access to justice, including tele-law platforms, mobile legal vans, and virtual consultation services, especially in remote border districts like Poonch, Rajouri, and Karnah. “Justice must not merely be available—it must be accessible,” he said.

Omar further underscored the importance of Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms such as Lok Adalats, mediation centres, and Panchayat forums, especially for land disputes and entitlement claims. He also highlighted the need for capacity-building among judicial officers and legal aid lawyers in areas such as tribal customary law and military jurisprudence.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, the CM concluded, “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members,” reaffirming the Government’s unwavering support to the Legal Services Authorities.

The conference also featured addresses by Justice Surya Kant, Supreme Court Judge and Executive Chairman of NALSA; Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal; Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha; Chief Justice of J&K and Ladakh High Court Justice Arun Palli; and senior members of the armed forces and legal community.