The Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab, was established by the State Legislature of Punjab by passing the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab Act, 2006 (Punjab Act No. 12 of 2006). The Act incorporated a University of Law of national stature in Punjab, to fulfill the need for a Centre of Excellence in legal education in the modern era of globalization and liberaliz
ation. RGNUL started functioning from its Headquarters-Mohindra Kothi, The Mall, Patiala w.e.f. 26 May 2006. The University acquired approval of the Bar Council of India (BCI) in July 2006. The University also got registered with the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi under Section 2(f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 and has been declared fit to obtain grant from the (UGC) under Section 12-B of the UGC Act, 1956. RGNUL operated from heritage building of the erstwhile Patiala State, Mohindra Kothi, The Mall, Patiala (from 2006 to 2013) located in the heart of Patiala city in a pollution free environment. The University was accredited with ‘A’ Grade by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2015. RGNUL, Punjab was granted autonomy under UGC Regulations, Clause 5 Dimensions of Autonomy for Category-II Universites in April 2018.The Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, ranked RGNUL the first amongst the cleanest Higher Educational Institutions, Swachh Campus (2019) in the category of Government Residential Universities. The verdant and spacious campus of RGNUL at Sidhuwal, Bhadson Road, Patiala spreads across an area of 50 Acres of land. The state-of-the-art Campus has an Administrative-cum-Academic Block, Library, Auditorium, Sports Complex, Boys and Girls Hostels, Guest House, Community Hall, Health Centre, Residences, Stadium, Gymnasium, Canteen and facility area. RGNUL is a residential campus.The hostels have modern amenities including air conditioning of each room. There is also provision of apartments for faculty members and staff. The air conditioned university library of RGNUL is an example of excellence. With world class library services and rich collection of books and journals, this computerized Wi-Fi library has on its shelves more than 39000 volumes which include a comprehensive array of legal resources in both print and electronic formats. The University has set up seventeen centres of research. These include, Centre for Advanced Study in Criminal Law (CASCL); Centre for Consumer Protection Law and Advocacy (CCPLA); Centre for Advanced Study in International Humanitarian Law (CASH); Centre for Advaced Studies in Human Rights (CASIHR); Centre for Advanced Studies in Labour Welfare (CASLW),Centre for Environmental Legal Studies (CELS), Centre for Advanced Studies in Energy Laws (CASEL),Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (CADR), Centre for Constitutional Law and Governance (CCLG), Centre for Criminology, Criminal Justice and Victimology (CCV), Centre for Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights (CIIPR) and Centre for Business Laws and Taxation (CBLT). School of Agricultural Law and Economics (SALE); School of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies (SSSIS); RGNUL Institute for Competitive Examination (RICE) and Directorate of Distance Education (DODE) have also been established. The objective of these Centres is to undertake advanced study and research in the emerging areas of the respective fields, independently or in collaboration with professional institutions at the national or international levels; to bring about publications and produce study material in the respective fields of knowledge; organize seminars, workshops and conferences on contemporary and significant issues. IGNOU School of Law is also functional at RGNUL. The University has instituted a Legal Aid Clinic under the aegis of Punjab Legal Services Authority. The RGNUL Legal Aid Clinic, established in 2011, has a Strong Paralegal Volunteer Force of 110 members consisting of Advocates, Faculty members and students in general. RGNUL Legal Aid Clinic has undertaken many activities and projects to further its cause of Legal Awareness amongst the masses. The University has also set up the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) in consonance with UGC guidelines. RGNUL, Punjab is member of a number of professional organizations of national and international stature like the Asian Law Institute (ASLI);Association of Commonwealth Universities; Association of Indian Universities; Commonwealth Legal Education Association (ASIA); Consumer Guidance Society of India; DELNET (Development Library Network); Forum of South Asian Clinical Law Teachers; IASLIC (Indian association of Special Library and Information Centre); Indian Association of Social Science Institution;I ndian Academy of Social Sciences (ISSA); Indian Commerce Association;Indian Economic Association; Indian Institute of Comparative Law; Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA); Indian Law Institute(ILI); Indian Society of Criminology; Indian Society of International Law (ISIL); International Association of Law Schools and Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI).
