‘NLU Tripura trains BA LLB students in state-specific issues like child marriage, substance abuse’: VC
National Law University (NLU) Tripura is among the newest NLUs in the northeastern region of the country. Currently functioning from the Tripura Judicial Academy, the law college is expected to move to its permanent campus within a year. In a conversation with Academia360, vice-chancellor Yogesh Pratap Singh shares his firsthand experience of building a new national law university, the challenges of setting up an institution in the Northeast, and the steps being taken to ensure academic quality, regional relevance, and student diversity. Edited excerpts:
As a new NLU, what kind of challenges did you anticipate while taking charge at NLU Tripura?
Challenges were expected. I was mentally prepared because I was part of the founding team of National Law University Odisha, so I knew what kind of issues arise in the initial years. However, Tripura has its own specific challenges. It is geographically far from mainland India, and there is still a perception that the Northeast is remote. That mindset is slowly changing. Students from across the country like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka are now joining NLU Tripura.
There are logistical challenges because Tripura is a small state and resources are limited. The government has to arrange funds for construction and development. That said, construction is progressing fast, and we expect to move to our permanent campus within a year.
When did NLU Tripura actually begin its academic journey?
The law to establish NLU Tripura was passed in 2022. I joined as founding VC on September 30, 2022, but since it was already late in the academic year, we planned to begin from 2023. We have now completed two years of academic functioning.
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Where is the university currently functioning from?
At present, we are functioning from the Tripura Judicial Academy. Judicial Academies function under the High Court. Since the Chief Justice is the Chancellor of the University, we received support from and space at the Judicial Academy.
How many students does NLU Tripura admit each year?
We admit one section each for the five-year integrated BA LLB (Hons) programme and the LLM programme. Currently, we have around 190 students in total. For LLM, we have an intake capacity of 50, though the actual number varies between 40 and 45 to maintain the quality.
What are the key advantages of establishing a National Law University in Tripura?
This university is a major opportunity for the northeastern region. Earlier, students from this region had to travel to Delhi, Mumbai, or other mainland cities for quality legal education. The idea of having NLUs in every state emerged from chief ministers’ and chief justices’ conferences. In 2016, it was resolved that every state should have an NLU.
The objective was to ensure that students from each state get access to the best legal education locally. Today, some states even have two or three NLUs (Maharashtra has three NLUs). Sikkim has started one, and Jammu and Kashmir is also planning to begin operations. NLU Tripura aims to become a priority institution for the Northeast.
Since admissions are through CLAT, how do students from the host state benefit?
We have a 30% domicile reservation for students from Tripura, including tribal students. This ensures that local students benefit directly. At the same time, students from across India bring diversity. We celebrate festivals from different regions —Tripura, Rajasthan, Karnataka — and the campus reflects India’s democratic and cultural diversity.
Importantly, in two years, we have not seen any social or cultural friction. Students from different states coexist harmoniously.
In what ways does NLU Tripura’s curriculum reflect the legal and social realities of the northeastern region?
At present, the university follows all compulsory courses prescribed by the Bar Council of India to ensure a strong foundational legal education. Apart from this, NLU Tripura is consciously working to contextualise learning by engaging with regional issues through both classroom discussions and institutional initiatives.
Beyond formal teaching, the university has established several research centres, including the Centre for Tribal Studies, the Centre for Public Health Law, and the Centre for Women and Child Rights. These centres focus on region-specific social and legal challenges and encourage faculty and students to undertake research relevant to the Northeast.
The university is also working closely with state government departments to support policy-oriented research and on-ground legal interventions.
What role does the university play in addressing key social issues in the state?
Yes. Child marriage is a major concern in Tripura. We have worked with UNICEF Assam and conducted surveys in two districts with high incidence. We submitted a detailed report to the chief minister and the Social Welfare Department.
We are also working with the Panchayati Raj department. Gram pradhans and panchayat members are close to families and can intervene early. We aim to create child-marriage-free, child-friendly, and women-friendly gram panchayats through hand-holding support and development plans.
How do students benefit from learning state-specific and regional legal issues?
Many of our students will become judges, civil servants, policymakers, or lawyers. If they are not trained in state-specific legal problems like child marriage, POCSO, NDPS issues, substance abuse, they cannot effectively respond later.
We integrate experiential learning through legal aid clinics, outreach programmes, school connect initiatives, and Panchayat project, where students actively participate.
Are border-related legal issues addressed, given Tripura’s proximity to Bangladesh?
There is no separate course on border law, but subjects like refugee law, humanitarian law, and international law address cross-border issues. We use Indo-Bangladesh border examples in class. Tripura, despite having a long border, is largely peaceful.
How does NLU Tripura ensure students are not disadvantaged due to location, or it being new?
There was an apprehension initially. To address this, we regularly invite faculty and experts from established NLUs — Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata, Odisha, Gujarat, Bhopal, Jabalpur. They spend several days training students and faculty.
We want students to feel confident that they are receiving education comparable to any leading law university in India.
How early are students exposed to legal aid and clinical education?
Legal aid is central to our philosophy. We started legal aid activities in the very first semester. We actively work with the State Legal Services Authority and District Legal Services Authorities.
Second- and third-year students play a major role, while first-year students are introduced gradually. We also have a Pro Bono Club, as mandated by the ministry of Law and Justice.