POONCH MIRROR NEWS DESK JANUARY 14,2026
Jammu, January 14, 2026 – In a significant push for balanced regional development in legal education, the Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Jammu (JKHCBAJ) has called on authorities to establish National Law Universities (NLUs) in both the Jammu and Kashmir regions of the Union Territory.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Senior Advocate and President of JKHCBAJ, Nirmal K. Kotwal, underscored the urgent need to address regional disparities in access to premier legal education. Kotwal welcomed the government’s earlier decision to set up a National Law University at Ompora, Budgam in the Kashmir Valley on a temporary basis but emphasised that this should not be the only centre of legal academic excellence for the region.
Leaving Jammu and Ladakh behind in this prestigious endeavour would perpetuate regional imbalances and deny talented youth from these areas access to world-class legal education,” Kotwal said. He framed the demand as aligned with the constitutional principles of equity, federalism and inclusive growth, urging that similar institutions be established in Jammu and Ladakh as well.
The press briefing was attended by all senior office bearers of JKHCBAJ, including Vice President Baldev Singh, General Secretary Pardeep Majotra, Joint Secretary Anshu Mahajan, and Treasurer Rahul Aggarwal, highlighting a unified stance within the legal fraternity.
Beyond the demand for equitable positioning of NLUs, the Bar Association also renewed its call for immediate elections to the Jammu & Kashmir Bar Council, a process that has been stalled for years despite repeated representations and judicial directives. Kotwal reiterated that the prolonged delay has eroded the autonomy of the legal profession and disenfranchised thousands of enrolled advocates across the Union Territory.
Legal professionals and stakeholders across J&K have welcomed the Bar’s articulation, seeing it as part of a broader dialogue on strengthening higher education infrastructure within the region. As discussions unfold among policymakers and administrators, the JKHCBAJ’s unified appeal adds weight to calls for region-inclusive policy outcomes on legal education access and institutional reform.
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