JK High Court Bar Association Jammu Protests Against Regional Bias; Demands Immediate National Law University Establishment at Jammu

JAMMU, J&K — February 3, 2026: The Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association Jammu (JKHCBAJ) staged a massive protest today, condemning what they describe as systemic discrimination against the Jammu region.

Representing thousands of legal professionals, the association has issued a formal demand for the immediate establishment of a National Law University (NLU) in Jammu to ensure regional equity and provide local youth with access to premier legal education.

The protest serves as a “clarion call” against decades of developmental neglect, with JKHCBAJ President and Senior Advocate Nirmal K. Kotwal emphasizing that the lack of such an institution perpetuates an unjust divide between the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley.

The association highlighted that while other regions have seen significant growth in higher education and infrastructure, Jammu continues to struggle without a dedicated NLU, forcing aspiring legal students to migrate elsewhere.

By demanding an immediate notification for the university, the JKHCBAJ aims to bridge the “gaping chasm of regional disparity” and safeguard the social fabric of the Union Territory. The Bar Association has urged both the Central and Union Territory administrations, including the Ministry of Education, to act swiftly on these demands.

While reaffirming their commitment to peaceful advocacy, the legal fraternity warned that continued inaction would lead to further mobilization to secure Jammu’s rightful place in the nation’s progress.