Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur
Maharashtra National Law University Nagpur (MNLU) (also known as National Law University, Nagpur or NLU Nagpur) is a National Law University and a public law school established by the government through the Maharashtra National Law University Act (Maharashtra Act No. VI of 2014). The university is the 19th National Law University established in India and is located in the Orange City of Nagpur, Maharashtra. The Chief Justice of India serves as the Head of the institution. History The demand for the establishment of a National Law University was the oldest among all national level institutions like IIM, IIIT, AIIMS, and NIPER in Vidarbha which is considered as a backward region of Maharashtra. Nagpur was the first to be tipped to get the State's First National Law University when its demand was endorsed by dignitaries which included Then-President Pratibha Patil, Chief Justice Mohit Shah and then Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan during High Court Bar Association's (HCBA) Platinum Jubilee celebrations in February 2011. But due to some unidentified reasons, the proposal failed to move further. Ex-High Court Bar Association President Mr. Anil Mardikar first raised the demand on February 6, 2011 for an NLU in Nagpur. But The Maharashtra Government shifted The Institute to Mumbai as revealed by then Minister Of State DP Sawant. The High Court Bar Association of Nagpur and District Bar Association of Nagpur staged protests and even filed a PIL in Nagpur High Court against this move. The Government was forced to allow the establishment of an NLU in Nagpur. The Bill to govern NLUs was tabled in the Nagpur session of the assembly in 2013 for the first time. The State Assembly passed the Maharashtra National Law University Act (Maharashtra Act No. VI of 2014) paving way for the establishment of The Institution. The Chief Justice of India appointed Justice Sharad Bobde as the first Chancellor for MNLU Nagpur and District judge Dr. N.M Sakharkar was appointed as the Officer On Special Duty (OSD) and the Registrar of the university. Academics and research The university has twenty-eight centres for advanced legal studies and research to address the socio-legal issues and challenges and to conduct research on thriving issues of law, social science and humanities. These centres offer courses, conduct seminars, conferences, and training programs for the identified target groups. The prominent research centres are Centre for Advanced Study in Criminal Law (CASCL) Centre for Consumer Protection Laws and Advocacy (CCPLA) Centre for Advanced Study in International Humanitarian Law (CASH) Centre for Study in Agriculture Law and Economics (SALE) Bureau of Information for Studies Abroad (BISA) Directorate of Distance Education (DODE) Centre for Advanced Studies in Human Rights (CASIHR) Centre for Woman and Child Rights Centre of Intellectual Property Law (IPR) [In collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation( WIPO)] Centre for Legal Aid and Services Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution The university has inked Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with prominent law universities of the country for the purpose of academic collaboration that will encompass exchange of students