Cuttack, Aug. 24: A team from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) today pointed out deficiencies in the infrastructure at the National Law University of Odisha (NLUO) here.

The four-member team led by Ranbir Singh, vice-chancellor of National Law University, Delhi, expressed serious concern over the lack of dedicated medical facilities at NLUO, which is a residential university with over 700 students staying on the campus.

There is no permanent doctor available and only a nurse caters to the students' medical needs. The students depend on an ambulance that has been engaged by the varsity if they need to be taken to two private hospitals in case of medical emergencies.

A source said the team had suggested an upgrade of the library, which is operating on a temporary arrangement, into a full-fledged one for providing better academic facilities to the students.

The team stressed early construction of staff quarters on the campus for teachers, a requirement for functioning of a residential varsity.

The central team today completed the process of assessing, evaluating and accrediting the university. It was the first such Naac team visit to NLUO since its establishment in 2009.

"We will place recommendations before the Odisha government for more funds and upgrading medical facilities, the library, sports facilities and posting of faculty members at NLUO," said Singh. He said the basic job of the team was to focus on ensuring equity, expansion of higher education and setting standards for achieving excellence.

In spite of the lacunae, the growth of NLUO has been phenomenal in terms of infrastructure compared to other law schools and universities in the country. It has also come up with a global initiative for academic programmes in higher education.

The NLUO has signed a memorandum of understanding with foreign law varsities for students and faculty exchange and collaborative research. The foreign universities include - School of Law, Texas, University of Illinois, Northumbria University, SOAS University of London, and Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil.

The team emphasised on conducting more research, starting community radio services and other allied projects as part of contributing and assisting the poor and other backward sections of society and creating awareness about their rights.

"As part of the new national framework for rankings by the Centre, there will be a separate mechanism for all law schools in the country, which will be helpful in ensuring that institutions evolve and contribute to national growth," Singh said.

NLUO vice-chancellor Srikrishna Deva Rao said the Naac recommendations would be sent to the state government for necessary action.