GNLU to launch new campus in Silvassa after Gujarat Assembly passes Bills allowing University to set up outside State

The Gujarat State Assembly on Thursday passed two Bills to amend the Gujarat Municipalities Act and the Gujarat National Law University Act (GNLU Act), effectively allowing the University to set up a new campus outside of the State..Pending the Governor's approval, the Bills will pave the way for a new campus of GNLU to be set up at Silvassa, in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli..Speaking to Bar & Bench on the passing of the Bills, GNLU Director Prof (Dr) Shanthakumar said, "In April-May this year, the Government of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli wanted to set up a law school in their UT. But since theirs is a small UT, they can't have their own National Law University. So they approached us to set up our campus in Silvassa. They assured us of all support like land, infrastructure, financial support, etc. This was then discussed internally with the GNLU authorities - the Academic Council and Executive Council. Everyone agreed to it, but since there was no enabling provision in the GNLU Act to set up a campus outside Gujarat, we put forth a Bill proposing amends accordingly.".Section 3 of the GNLU Act, 2003 has been amended, enabling the University to start operations at a campus outside the State. "Provided that the General Council may, from time to time, through resolution establish additional campus at such place within or outside the State of Gujarat under the control of the University. The General Council shall have all the powers to govern, administer and manage such additional campus so established as per the provisions of the Act," the amendment reads..On the status of the campus at Silvassa, Prof Shanthakumar said, "We are in the very initial stages. Currently, the UT has offered a transitory campus which we are in the process of taking over and furnishing. The government identified the place for us to start the campus. We are still to prepare a complete Detailed Project Report (DPR) which will have stipulations with respect to Human Resource, infrastructure, etc.Since it is the centre of GNLU, all norms and rules of the Gandhinagar campus will be followed in the Silvassa campus as well. Nothing will be new," he added..He further clarified that the new campus will not have a separate governing body, and will be run from Gandhinagar."Unlike the model followed in Maharashtra, where all three NLUs have different governing bodies, etc, this is only an off-campus centre with all the administration happening from the Gandhinagar campus.".Summing up his thoughts on the new project, the Director said, "We are also excited about this new project, because this is something new to the entire NLU system. Till date, there has been no instance of the campus set up outside the State. Since this is the first experience, we are all very excited and keen to see how it will shape up. Fortunately, we have the support of the entire University and Union Territory administration and Justice Dr DY Chandrachud, who is a visiting faculty of the University, is also in complete favour of this project. We are confident that this will take off very well and be a great model for the entire nation.".[Read the proposed Amendment Bill here]