National Consultation on Contextualizing Rule of Law and its Measurement

NLU, Delhi organized a “National Consultation on Contextualizing Rule of Law and its Measurement” on 13-14 December 2014 in collaboration with Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit, New Delhi (FNF). The object of this exercise was to develop methodology and criteria to measure the ‘Rule of Law’ in Indian context. This is a novel and inter-disciplinary effort that aims at operationalizing the ‘Rule of Law’ in the Indian context. Experts from various fields such as government, academic, lawyers, activists and scholars were invited to participate in the programme. The idea behind this exercise is to initiate a major project for measuring the ‘Rule of Law’ in the Indian context. Prof. B. B. Pande, Prof. M. P. Singh, Prof. M. Z, Khan, Prof. Mohan Gopal, Prof. Srikrishna Deva Rao, National Law University Odisha, Prof. Vijay Raghavan and Prof. Arvind Tiwari Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Prof. G. S. Bajpai, National Law University Delhi and Prof. Kaushal Vibhute, IIT Kharagpur, contributed to this programme. 

Report Release and Panel Discussion on India and the Challenge of Statelessness: A Review of the Legal Framework Relating to Nationality

A Report Release and Panel Discussion on ‘India and the Challenge of Statelessness: A Review of the Legal Framework Relating to Nationality’ was organised on the 10th of December 2014. The Panelists were Prof. Anupama Roy, Professor, Centre for Political Studies, Dr. Ravi Nair, Director, South Asian Human Rights Documentation Centre and Dr. V.G Hegde, Associate Professor, Faculty of Legal Studies, South Asian University. Mr. Dominik Bartsch, Chief of Mission to India and the Maldives, UNHCR on the NLUD-UNHCR joint collaboration addressed the audience as well. The project report was released by Prof. (Dr.) G.S. Bajpai, Registrar, National Law University Delhi, Mr. Dominik Bartsch and Prof. (Dr.) Sitharamam Kakarala,Vice-Chancellor, Glocal University assisted by Ms. Maanvi Tiku & Ms. Deepika Prakash.

Seminar on Competition Law in Collaboration with USA FTC

The Center for Corporate Law and Governance, National Law Univeristy, Delhi organised a one day Seminar on Competition Law on December 4, 2014. The objective of the Seminar was to familiarise participants with fundamental concepts of the competition and it included sessions on different aspects of competition law including procedural fairness. The latest case law was discussed during the sessions. Mr. Paul O’Brien and Mr. Daniel P Ducore from Federal Trade Commission, USA took five sessions during the day and Professor (Dr.) Harpreet Kaur, NLU Delhi contributed the Indian position on Competition Law.

National Colloquium for State Human Rights Institutions on UN Guidelines on NHRIs (Paris Principles)

National Collquium for State Human Rights Institutions on UN Guidelines on NHRIs was jointly organised by National Law University, Delhi & Working Group on Human Rights in India and the UN on 28- 29 November 2014.

The colloquium focused on the UN Guidelines relating to National Institutions i.e.  Paris Principles, 1993. The program threw light on the UN Human Rights Mechanisms with a special focus on Special Procedures, Treaty Bodies, the UN Human Rights Council, the Universal Periodic Review and their mandate set for the effective functioning of domestic human rights mechanisms. In this programme State Human Rights Institutions (SHRIs) shared their best practices that are adopted by them. It also discussed standards relating to SHRIs, networking and close coordination among all SHRIs. The colloquium took overview of history of SHRIs in India for the past 20 years. Serving Chairpersons and Members of State Human Rights Institutions who have before them a serving tenure of a minimum 2 years in the institution they serve participated in this colloquium. 

Colloquium on Selected IP Issues

Colloquium on Selected Intellectual Property (IP) Issues is a panel/ speakers’ series launched by National Law University, Delhi with an aim to generate a nuanced dialogue and to promote free-thinking on emergent issues in IP law, policy, theory and practice. As the current IP landscape in India is presenting new challenges on an ever-increasing scale there is an urgent need to understand this phenomenon and discuss issues surrounding some of the trickiest aspects IP, including its socio-economic implications.  With this motive and aim a talk on “TRIPS Implementation and Secondary Patenting in Brazil and India” by Prof. Bhaven Sampat, Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health & Prof. Ken Shadlen, professor in the Department of International Development, London School of Economics was held on 21st  November, 2014.  

Pre Consultation on Contextualizing Rule of Law & its Measurement.

A meeting of certain experts was held at National Law University Delhi on 13th November 2014 to assess the feasibility of this exercise and to advice the improvements for the project of Contextualizing Rule of Law & its Measurement. Prolonged deliberation took place on Approach to Rule of Law,  Objectives of the present exercise, Rule of Law Measurement, and Methodology . It was decided that the notion of Rule of Law should not be seen in restricted arena of lawyers law and rather the justice oriented outcome of Rule of Law should be emphasised in this process, this exercise should not merely be a replication of World Justice Project and the end objective of this exercise must be to develop Indian Version of Rule of Law informed by the relevant contexts and detriments having a bearing on the perceived and actual forms of Rule of Law.  This meeting also discussed about the most appropriate methodology for conducting Quantitative Measurement of Rule of Law in concerned areas and it was agreed that the choice of methodology may be brought out more clearly, once the various parameters of this study including sites and samples are finalized.

Transformative Constitutionalism: Comparing the Apex Courts of Brazil, India, and South Africa

The Centre for Constitutional Law, Policy, and Governance, NLU Delhi organized the book launch of the South Asian Edition of “Transformative Constitutionalism: Comparing the Apex Courts of Brazil, India, and South Africa” on 30th October, 2014. The book was published by the NLU Delhi Press in collaboration with Pretoria University Law Press. A panel discussion with the panel consisting of Justice Zak Yacoob, Judge (Retd.), Constitutional Court of South Africa, Prof. Upendra Baxi, Former Vice Chancellor, Delhi University & Distinguished Professor, NLU Delhi, Prof. M. P. Singh, Former Vice Chancellor, WBNUJS, Kolkata & Visiting Professor, NLU Delhi and Prof. Ranbir Singh, Vice Chancellor, National Law University, Delhi was also held on facets of constitutionalism and the transformative possibilities afforded by constitutions in a post-colonial context. 

Seminar on Post Conflict Reconciliation

One day seminar on Post Conflict Reconciliation was held at National Law University on 27th September, 2014. Discussion on Understanding Post-Conflict Reconciliation at the International Level: The Balkan Experience was held in first session.  Conflict Reconciliation in the Middle East and Testimonials & Sharing of Best Practices from Post Conflict Reconciliation in India were deliberated in the second and third session respectively. Dr. Anuradha Saibaba, Legal Advisor, ICRC, Mr. Aleksandar Trifunovic, Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) Correspondent, Mr. Zoran Ivancic, Journalist, Producer, PR Manager, Civil Society Activist from Sarajevo, Mr. Adnan Huskic, Academic Commentator & Analyst, Friedrich Naumann Foundation BiH, Dr. Ronald Meinardus, Regional Director South Asia, Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), Mr. Amit Chadha, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India & Founder, Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR), Ms. Asma Khan Lone (Writer, Jammu and Kashmir), Ms. Monisha Behl (Founder, North East Network), Mr. Karnail Singh (President, All India Sikh Student Federation), Professor (Dr.) Srikrishna Deva Rao, Vice Chancellor, National Law University Odisha and Mr. Daniel Mathew, Assistant Professor of Law, National Law University Delhi shared their views in the Seminar.

National Seminar on Surrogacy

Surrogacy is a practice that has caught the public eye and is proliferating all across the nation. It has brought forth India as a world-class player in the arena. Being a contentious area, a number of issues crop up that require deliberation. The National Seminar on Surrogacy, held on 13-14 September, 2014, initiated by the National Commission for Women and supported by ICMA and National Law University Delhi focussed on the specific area and successfully brought together thoughts of academicians, health professionals, legal professionals, experts in the field as well as students.

The Seminar was formally inaugurated by Prof. (Dr.) Ranbir Singh, Vice Chancellor, National Law university, Delhi and the keynote address was delivered by Hon’ble Ms. Justice Gita Mittal, Judge, High Court of Delhi. Various issues were flagged during the course of the inaugural session by Hon’ble Justice Gita Mittal. Other speakers included Ms. Shamina Shafeeq, Member, National Commission for Women and Dr. R.K. Suri, President, ICMA. Prof. (Dr.) G.S. Bajpai, Registrar, National Law University, Delhi summed up the issues at hand and proposed the vote of thanks.

During the course of deliberations, broad areas with respect to the practice were covered. These included surrogacy as an industry, law and policy, medico-ethical issues, international dimensions and regulation of surrogacy, judicial perspectives and psycho-social issues.

Seminar on Groundwater Management in India: Issues and Challenges in association with SOAS, London:

National Law University Delhi in association with School of Law, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (SOAS) organized a Seminar on Groundwater Management in India: Issues and Challenges on 21st June 2014. This seminar provided a platform for academics, researchers, lawyers and grassroots activists to discuss and debate legal, policy and institutional issues and challenges related to groundwater management in India in the context of climate change/the environment.  Dr. Mihir Shah, Member, Planning Commission of India delivered the Keynote Address on this occasion.

Consultation on the Rules of the National Food Security Act

As a part of framing Rules for the National Food Security Act to ensure right to food for the children under six, Alliance for the Right to Early Childhood Development in collaboration with National Law University Delhi organized Two-Day consultation on 30-31 May 2014. The objectives of the consultation were to examine the Policy Paper as a comprehensive background note to provide the rationale for the rules for NFSA- ME and ICDS, to collectively examine the set of model rules and finalise them for broader dissemination and discussion, to share state experiences of rule-making with regard to learning, process, participation- Mp, TN, Karnataka, Odisha, Jharkhand and to plan and disseminate on the rules at the grassroots, state and central level for adoption of the same. 

Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access (IDIA) Annual Conference 2014

National Law University Delhi hosted the IDIA Annual Conference 2014 on 03rd May 2014. The IDIA Project seeks to empower marginalized communities by foster access to leading law schools. The IDIA annual conference explored the issue of severe lack of representation, particularly from lower income group and from rural India in the elite law schools. Key participants in this conference included Prof. (Dr.) Ranbir Singh, NLU Delhi, Prof. Srikrishna Deva Rao, NLU Delhi, Dr. ShamnadBasheer, Founder and Managing Trustee, IDIA, Prof (Dr.) Venkat Rao, NLS Bangalore etc.

Lecture on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) by Prof. B.T. Kaul

On 26th April 2014, NLU Delhi organized a special lecture by Prof. B.T. Kaul on “Implications of the Novartis-GlivecJudgement” on occasion of World Intellectual Property Day organized in association with All India Patent Officers Welfare Association, Delhi. Prof. Kaul critically analyzed the judgement and emphasized on the public interest arguments presented in the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court. A well informed audience consisting of representatives from Industry, patent academia and students participated in this discussion.

Colloquium on “Early Market Entry of Biosimilars in India: Implications of Roche/Mylan Dispute”

NLU Delhi Colloquium on Selected Intellectual Property Issues is a panel/speakers' series launched with a an aim to generate a nuanced dialogue and to promote free thinking on emergent issues in IP law, policy and theory. The current IP landscape in India is presenting new challenges on an ever-increasing scale. Delhi is a hub of IP litigation and practice. Hence there is an urgent need to understand this phenomenon and discuss issues surrounding some of the trickiest aspects of IP law, policy and practice, including its socio-economic implications. The first panel discussion of the colloquium series on the theme, “Early Market entry of Biosimilars in India: Implications of the Roche/Mylan Dispute' was held on 19th March 2014. The panelists included KalyaniMenon-Sen (feminist activist),  Anand Grover (Director of Lawyers Collective), RajeshwariHariharan (IP Litigator), K.M Gopal Kumar (Third World Netwrok), etc among others.

Priorities for Penal Reform Outlook for the Twentieth Century

National Law University Delhi in collaboration with Penal Reform International and Penal Reform and Justice Association organised one day seminar on “Priorities for Penal Reform Outlook for the Twentieth Century “at National Law University Delhi on 23 Feb, 2014. Justice Imman Ali, Judge Appellate Court of Bangladesh was the chief guest of the seminar. Themes of panel discussion were - Professionalising the Prison Service for the 21st Century, Specific needs and treatment of vulnerable groups in detention Women, Children and Mentally Ill and Restorative Justice and Alternatives to Prison. Experts chairing the panel discussion consisted of Dr. Rani Shankardass, Secretary-General, Penal Reform and Justice Association (PRAJA), Prof. John Podmore, Durham University and Associate, PenalReform International, Dr. M. R. Ahmed, Director Academy of Prisons and Correctional, Vimla Mehra, Director General, Delhi Prison and team of neurologist from NIMHANS. The seminar was attended by academicians, practicing advocates, prison officials and students.

Innovations in Indian IP teaching and Research with University of Washington & Microsoft.

Two days workshop on ‘Innovations in Indian IP Teaching and Research’ was held at NLU Delhi from 15-16 February, 2014 under the auspices of National Academy of Law Teachers in association with University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, U.S.A. and Microsoft. This workshop mainly focused on the Intellectual Property Teaching and research, fostering critical thinking in the area of IP law and policy, introduction to Clinical legal education and overview of clinics and scholarships in IP.  Discussions were also held on various teaching techniques, designing experiential courses in IP, research and institutional strategies for developing IPR teaching, research and policy and team based learning. The experiences and success stories of law teachers from India and the U.S. in teaching IP law and IP clinics were discussed by Prof. Jane Winn, Prof. Scott David, Prof. Bill Snyder and Prof. Debbie Maranville, of School of Law, University of Washington and Prof. Srikrishna Deva Rao, National Law University Delhi, Prof. Shamnad Bashir, NUJS Kolkata, Dr. Raman Mittal, Faculty of Law, Delhi University, Mr. Yogesh Pai, National Law University Delhi, Dr. Vishwas H., Jindal Global Law School, Mr. Ajay Pandey, Associate Professor, Jindal Global Law School from India. Challenges and opportunities in IP teaching in India and importance of use of new techniques and methods in teaching in IP were discussed in the workshop. The participants shared their views on clinical legal education in Intellectual property and research strategies for successful IP scholarships. Participants exchanged their ideas on various aspects IP scholarship and publishing in India and initiated the online repository of leading IP scholarship & research.