J&K Govt Says NLU Location Yet to Be Finalised Despite Assembly Resolution Favouring Budgam

The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was informed on Friday that the proposed National Law University (NLU) in Jammu and Kashmir is still under “active consideration,” with no final decision yet taken on its location—despite a unanimous House resolution last year recommending Budgam as the site.

Replying to a query by BJP legislator Yudhvir Sethi, the Minister in charge of the Law and Justice Department said that the government is currently examining a report submitted by a committee led by former Financial Commissioner Shantmanu. The report assesses various aspects of setting up the NLU, including the choice of location.

The issue has drawn political attention, particularly over the proposed site in Budgam in the Kashmir Valley. Sethi questioned the rationale behind preferring Budgam over Jammu, arguing that Jammu would serve as a more central and accessible location for students from across the country.

In its response, the government maintained that no final call has been made yet. “Any decision on all related aspects, including location, shall be taken thereafter,” the Minister said, indicating that deliberations are still ongoing.

The matter gains significance in light of a resolution passed by the Assembly on October 29, 2025. The resolution, moved by Deputy Legal Remembrancer Reyaz Ali Bhat, had urged the government to begin the process of establishing the NLU in Budgam “without any further delay.”

However, despite that clear recommendation, the government has not committed to Budgam as the final site. It also remained non-committal when asked whether an additional NLU could be set up in Jammu, offering no timeline or concrete assurance.

For now, the fate and location of Jammu and Kashmir’s first National Law University remain undecided, pending further examination of the committee’s findings and a final government decision.