Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law

Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law
Motto	Knowledge Empowers
Established	2006
Type	National Law University
Chancellor	Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court
Vice-Chancellor	P. S. Jaiswal
Students	320 undergraduates and 30 graduates
Location	Patiala, Punjab, India
Campus	50 acres (200,000 m2)
Affiliations	Bar Council of India, University Grant Commission
Website	Official website

Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), is a National Law University located in Patiala, Punjab, India. It was established in 2006 by the Punjab Government (Punjab Act No. 12 of 2006) as a public university dedicated to the field of Legal Education. The first vice-chancellor of the University was Gurjit Singh, who left the university to establish the National Law School & Judicial Academy, Assam. The institution is currently being headed by P.S. Jaswal. Presently, the university is functioning from its transit campus at Mohindra Kothi, Patiala and is planning to move to a permanent campus located at Sidhuwal Village, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Patiala. RGNUL is affiliated to UGC and approved by the Bar Council of India.

History

RGNUL was established in 2006 to fulfill the need for a centre of excellence in legal studies in the richest state in the country.

Academic Reputation and Students' Achievements

RGNUL's academic reputation is second to none. The proactive curriculum of the law school has gained appreciation from the legal fraternity. The signature law journal of the law school 'RGNUL Law Review' has been launched to promote cutting edge legal research.Its students have proved their mettle all over the country with the year 2009 proving to be exceptional. The students have publications in international and national legal journals. Kush Kalra of third year, a prolific essayist and a green activist has been the recipient of the prestigious ' Young Achievers Award 2009'. RGNUL won the NLIU Tankha moot, and had the best memorial in the ULC Bangalore moot. It also won the best researcher award in the prestigious Henry Durant national rounds. As per legally India's mooting premier league, RGNUL currently stands as the 7th best law school in the country and the 5th best national law school of India.

Campuses

Presently, the university is functioning from its transit campus at Mohindra Kothi, Patiala, a heritage building at the heart of the city of Patiala. By the end of 2011, the law school will be shifted to its new 50-acre (200,000 m²) campus located at Sidhuwal Village, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Patiala.

Criticism

RGNUL often faces the criticism of having too high a fee structure just like the other national law schools. With the annual fee being well over Rs 1 lakh p.a, it is considered to be beyond the means of a majority of the students who aspire for a legal education. [1]

Courses

• B.A., L.L.B. (Hons.)
• L.L.M.
• M.Phil. in Law
• M.Phil. in Social Sciences with Law
• Ph.D. in Law
• Ph.D. in Social Sciences with Law

Admission to Hons. course is through the Common Law Admission Test, which is held on a nationwide level.

Research Centres

In a short span of four years RGNUL has established a number of specialised centres in its campus catering to the myriad needs of its students. The most important among them are the following:

• 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)
• RGNUL Institute of Competitive Exams(RICE)
• Centre for Study in Agriculture Law and Economices (SALE)

External links

• RGNUL, Patiala
• RGNUL @Wikimapia