Patiala, March 1 -- The academic council of the Patiala-based Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) has approved a proposal to change its name to National Law University, people aware of the matter said on Saturday. According to the approved agenda of the academic council, "The Academic Council deliberated the said recommendations in depth and agreed with the proposal of the Dean (Academic) to change the name of the University from 'Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab' to 'National Law University, Punjab'. it has already been recommended to the Executive Council for approval." The executive council, comprising 13 members, is headed by Vice-Chancellor Jai Shankar Singh, who confirmed the development. "It has already been recommended to the Executive Council for approval," Singh said. According to people familiar with the matter, the renaming would require an amendment to the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab Act, 2006, that had envisaged the creation of the university on May 26, 2006. The move has drawn sharp criticism from the Congress, with Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi calling it a "deliberate attempt to polarise voters ahead of the Punjab assembly elections". "These institutions represent a legacy of nation-building and progressive development...," he added. Punjab health minister Balbir Singh, who is an MLA from Patiala Rural, said he was not aware of the proposal and would not comment until he had full facts. "I will study the matter and gather complete information before making any statement," he said....