Law University sanctioned for J&K: CM Omar Abdullah
Srinagar, Jul 26: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Saturday said that the government led by him had sanctioned the establishment of a Law University in Jammu and Kashmir, and an initial allocation of Rs 50 crore had been made for setting up the varsity.
Delivering a keynote address at the North Zone Regional Conference of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) on ‘Reaffirming the Constitutional Vision of Justice for Defence Personnel and Tribals’ in Srinagar, CM Omar said that his government had sanctioned a dedicated Law University in J&K with an initial allocation of Rs 50 crore.
Highlighting the government’s vision, he said that this institution would focus on specialised legal education and research in fields like tribal law, military justice, constitutional studies, and environmental law.
The CM said that economic and other disabilities should not curtail access to justice.
“This constitutionally significant conference focuses on advancing the rights and entitlements of defence personnel and tribal communities,” he said.
CM Omar said that these were two segments of the society, of which one defends the Constitution with unflinching resolve and the other has long waited for its full embrace.
He said that this regional conference was of great significance to deliberate and collectively reflect on the foundational promise of the republic for realisation of justice – social, economic, and political enshrined in the preamble and concretised in Article 39A of the Constitution, which enjoins the state to ensure that access to justice is not curtailed by economic or other disabilities.
Paying tribute to the service and sacrifices of defence personnel, many of whom hail from J&K, the CM emphasised the need for swift, compassionate legal redressal for those serving in inhospitable terrains under difficult circumstances.
He highlighted the systemic legal barriers faced by defence personnel in matters like pension disputes and service-related grievances owing to their geographic remoteness and the distinct constraints of military life.
CM Omar commended the J&K State Legal Services Authority for its initiative in amending its legal aid rules to expressly include serving and retired defence personnel.
He said that the establishment of dedicated legal aid clinics in cantonments and districts with significant ex-servicemen populations should be prioritised.
“Equally important is the need to ensure that families of defence personnel, particularly widows, aged parents, and dependent children, receive empathetic, expert, and timely legal support,” the CM said. “Para-legal volunteers trained specifically in military legal issues should be deployed in areas with high defence populations. Simultaneously, technology must be harnessed to democratise access through mobile apps, virtual consultation platforms, and user-friendly legal information portals. Justice, in our times, must not merely be available; it must be accessible.”
He said that the tribal communities were custodians of rich cultural and ecological heritage.
“J&K is home to several Scheduled Tribes, including Gujjars, Bakarwals, Pahadis, Gaddis, and Sippis, who have preserved ancient traditions while braving difficult terrains,” CM Omar said.
“Our government has correspondingly augmented its developmental efforts. This year, the capital expenditure for tribal welfare has been raised to Rs 98 crore. Six Eklavya model residential schools have been made operational, 222 smart classrooms have been established in tribal-dominated schools, and healthcare services have been expanded through mobile medical units. The Tribal Research Institute has also been commissioned. These interventions reflect our commitment to combine dignity with development. Yet, development alone cannot substitute justice. Structural barriers to legal literacy, representation, and redressal continue to persist among tribal populations owing to linguistic, cultural, and geographic factors,” he said.
The CM said that the Legal Services Authority had commendably operationalised 255 legal aid clinics, including in tribal villages and correctional institutions, supported by 527 panel lawyers and 561 para-legal volunteers.
He expressed the hope that paralegal volunteers are trained from within tribal communities themselves.
“This will ensure that legal support is rendered in familiar idioms, dialects, and cultural frameworks. We must also expand mobile legal aid vans, promote the use of tele-law platforms, and facilitate virtual hearings. Justice, if it is to be meaningful, must reach every remote hamlet from Poonch to Kishtwar and from Rajouri to Karnah,” CM Omar said.
He also spoke about the sensitive balance that must be maintained between national security and the rights of tribal citizens.
“Many tribal regions are located in border belts or areas of heightened security oversight. However, law enforcement must not translate into legal disenfranchisement. Mechanisms for lodging complaints, accessing courts, and redressing grievances must be made transparent, timely, and responsive,” the CM said.
He said that Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms also offer immense promise.
“Lok Adalats, mediation centres, and village-level panchayat forums, when duly sensitised, can provide swift, culturally respectful adjudication, especially in matters related to land rights, service entitlements, and local grievances. These models need to be institutionalised and resourced accordingly,” CM Omar said.
He said that capacity-building was essential for judicial officers, legal aid lawyers, and field functionaries who must be trained in tribal customary law, military jurisprudence, and the ethics of constitutional service.
“Only through sustained cross-learning can our justice system be truly responsive to the diversity it is meant to serve,” the CM said.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, he said, “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.”
CM Omar reaffirmed the government’s unwavering support for Legal Services Authorities and their partners in delivering justice to the most marginalised.
The conference was also attended by Member of Parliament Mian Altaf.
