Jammu, Apr 07: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday inaugurated the Regional Business Centre of Jammu Kashmir Bank at Rail Head Complex, Jammu.

The Lieutenant Governor congratulated and extended his felicitations to the entire team of J&K Bank on the occasion.

Marking a significant milestone in the Bank’s infrastructure and business expansion strategy, the newly established centre will serve as a vital operational and administrative hub. The facility is designed to further improve service delivery and operational efficiency through its robust infrastructure and enhanced customer interface areas.

The integrated and technology-enabled business centre will be pivotal in driving efficiency, deepening market penetration and supporting J&K Bank’s vision of sustainable and inclusive expansion across geographies.

Amitava Chatterjee, MD & CEO, J&K Bank also apprised the Lieutenant Governor of the Bank’s strong financial performance, highlighting that the Bank’s business has crossed Rs 2.90 lakh crore.

The commissioning of the Regional Business Centre is not merely an expansion of physical infrastructure, but a decisive step towards strengthening our business architecture in a key growth region, he said.

The new Regional Business Centre will enhance the Bank’s presence in the Jammu region while reinforcing its commitment to modernizing infrastructure in line with evolving customer expectations and business needs.

The building houses a currency chest, a state-of-the-art branch, multiple departmental offices, and dedicated operational and administrative units, significantly enhancing administrative and backend support. This facility will enable faster decision-making, improved coordination and superior customer service.

Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor; Sudhir Gupta, Executive Director, J&K Bank; R.K Chhibber and Arun Gandotra, Directors on Board of J&K Bank; Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu; Chief General Managers, Divisional Head, General Managers and other office bearers of the Bank, senior officials of the Industries and other line departments attended the inaugural ceremony.

Jammu, Apr 07: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday met a group of law students who demanded the establishment of a National Law University (NLU) in Jammu, with the students saying he sought 10 days to consider the proposal.

According to the students, the Chief Minister assured them that the matter would be taken forward and expressed optimism that it would end on a positive note.

The student representatives said Abdullah informed them that he also supports the idea of setting up an NLU in Jammu, similar to the one proposed for Kashmir, but indicated that time is needed to assess the financial aspects.

“He told us that he needs around 10 days as the issue has to be discussed in the cabinet and to see from where the budget allocation will be made,” a member of the student body said.

The students said the Chief Minister emphasized that the proposal would be examined carefully, particularly with regard to funding arrangements.

They expressed optimism following the meeting, saying they were hopeful that Jammu would also get a National Law University.

The demand for an NLU in Jammu had raised by student groups with the active support of right wing organizations seeking expansion of higher legal education infrastructure in the region. [KNT]

Jammu, Apr 07: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the progress on the construction of the new High Court complexes for the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court at Srinagar and Jammu wings, underscoring the need for expeditious execution of the prestigious judicial infrastructure projects.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister emphasized time-bound completion and inter-departmental coordination, directing all concerned departments and executing agencies to fast-track the projects..

He also called for early grant of administrative approval for the Jammu wing at Raika, which is envisioned as a modern, integrated judicial complex.

The project, being executed by National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd, (NBCC), involves the relocation of the existing High Court from Janipur to a purpose-built campus at Raika, designed to accommodate the growing requirements of the judiciary.

The new complex is planned with state-of-the-art courtrooms, judges’ chambers, administrative blocks, litigant facilities, parking infrastructure, and digital-enabled court systems, aligning with contemporary standards of judicial functioning.

The meeting was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary PWD, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, Commissioner Secretary Law Achal Sethi, Director General Codes Mahesh Das, Director General Budget, senior officers, and representatives of NBCC.

NBCC officials informed the meeting that the project is being executed in multiple phases (Phase-I, II and III) to ensure structured development and optimal resource utilization. A detailed presentation highlighted the site layout, area distribution (area matrix), zoning plan, and phased construction strategy, along with timelines and execution challenges.

The Chief Minister also reviewed proposals for the redevelopment of the Lower Court Complex in Srinagar which aims to modernize existing judicial infrastructure in Kashmir. These projects are expected to improve accessibility, case handling efficiency, and overall litigant experience.

Stressing the importance of robust judicial infrastructure, the Chief Minister directed officials to ensure strict adherence to timelines, quality benchmarks, and transparency in execution.
He called for regular monitoring and resolution of bottlenecks, particularly in approvals, fund flow, and on-ground coordination.

The Chief Minister observed that modern court infrastructure is essential for efficient justice delivery and public trust in the legal system, and reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity across both Jammu and Kashmir divisions.