# NLU Meghalaya, judicial academy get permanent campuses

2026-10-28T01:04:43+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Meghalaya High Court Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere laid foundation stones for permanent campuses of National Law University (NLU) Meghalaya and Meghalaya State Judicial Academy at Mawpdang-Mawkhanu, New Shillong Township on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. The state government handed over 65 acres for the two institutions on 30 October 2023. The Shillong Times reports that the estimated cost of the NLU permanent campus was reduced from Rs 550 crore to around Rs 240 to 260 crore after repeated cost revisions. Sangma said the government's goal is to restore Shillong's position as an education hub, noting that the number of higher education institutions in Meghalaya increased from 71 to 75 in 2018 to nearly 110 now. Chief Justice Dere emphasised that the campuses would help harmonise the state's customary traditions with constitutional values and urged students to use their education to protect rights and uphold democratic institutions. NLU Meghalaya, established in 2022, was inaugurated at its temporary campus on 8 July 2023. The Meghalaya State Judicial Academy was formally established in May 2016 and currently operates from temporary premises.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

The two reports split on a single financial detail. The Meghalayan Express leads with the vision of restoring Shillong's education hub status, omitting the cost entirely, while The Shillong Times foregrounds the cost cut from Rs 550 crore to Rs 240 to 260 crore, quoting the CM that financial prudence must not stall the project. The uniform coverage includes both CMs' promises of infrastructure expansion and the Chief Justice's call to harmonise customary law with constitutional values. The Shillong Times adds a specific fiscal watch item: the reduced project estimate of Rs 240 to 260 crore, which now awaits execution.

## Coverage

Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
- themeghalayanexpress.com (neutral report) <https://themeghalayanexpress.com/nlu-meghalaya-mjsa-to-have-permanent-campuses/>
  Omits cost controversy, leads with education vision
- theshillongtimes.com (neutral report) <https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/10/28/nlu-campus-cost-cut-by-over-half-to-rs-260-crore/>
  Leads with cost cut from Rs 550 to Rs 260 crore

This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry.

Tags: Conrad K Sangma, Meghalaya State Judicial Academy, NLU Meghalaya, Revati Mohite Dere, Shillong
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