NLSIU is hosting the Trilateral sports tournament from March 27-29, 2024, where teams from NALSAR, Hyderabad and NUJS Kolkata will be competing in a 3-way contest with NLSIU Bangalore.
Trilateral is a sports fest aimed at developing camaraderie between three law schools – NLSIU, NALSAR and NUJS. It is conducted on a rotational basis, and NLSIU is hosting it this year.
The sports meet is spread over three days and features multiple sports including basketball, football, cricket, kabaddi, lawn tennis, table tennis, volleyball and athletics. Events will start at 8 AM in the morning and continue until 10 PM at night.
NLS faculty Manish will present a paper titled “Protecting journalism from national security: the aftermath of Madhyamam Broadcasting”. Radhika Chitkara will be the discussant.
Abstract:
The Supreme Court of India has, in its jurisprudence over the last seven decades, evolved an interpretation of Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(2) of the Constitution that reads the right broadly and the restrictions narrowly, especially where press freedom is concerned. Despite this, journalists reporting on national security issues face challenges ranging from lack of information to heavy penalties. In recent years, governments have often invoked national security to restrict journalism, using anti-terror laws which carry stringent penalties and threat of long pre-trial incarceration without bail. These and other national security laws have been upheld by the Supreme Court, which has, in contrast to its press freedom jurisprudence, adopted a ‘minimalist’ approach and refused to closely scrutinise them for infringement of fundamental rights. In this context, I contrast the Court’s free speech jurisprudence with its national security jurisprudence, and argue that the Court needs to import its exposition of the ‘chilling effect’ from the former into the latter, and evaluate executive actions and statutory procedures involving the media in the context of their ability to impact press freedom. I suggest that the Court’s 2023 judgment in Madhyamam Broadcasting v. Union of India is a first step towards ensuring that national security is not loosely used to curtail press freedom.
The Shri Narayan Rao Melgiri Memorial National Law Library at NLSIU is organizing a book exhibition and sale on March 26, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
This event is being organized in collaboration with the MPP House, Bengaluru, and promises to be an enriching experience for all book enthusiasts.
The exhibition will feature a diverse selection of books from various publishers, providing a unique opportunity for everyone to explore new literary works and contribute suggestions for potential additions to the library collection. Additionally, those attending the exhibition will have the chance to purchase books for their personal collection, with exclusive discounts offered by the vendor.
In this week’s faculty seminar, Dr. Atreyee Majumder will present a paper titled “Considering the Soul and its Ways for the Practice of Anthropology”, on Wednesday, March 20th, 2024. Dr. Karthick Ram Manoharan will be the discussant.
Abstract
In anthropological commonsense, we often take for granted some easy theses about where the self is located and when and where and how it can be accessed by the researcher? In this essay, I reflect on Jonardon Ganeri’s examination of a corpus of religious texts of Vedic Hinduism and Buddhism and consider the question of their potential implications for anthropological understanding of the self. I use his theses based on the study of religious texts – like the Upanishadic texts from two thousand years ago that decisively shape Indic philosophy – as philosophy or theory. I take these texts to be equivalent to a Foucault, Agamben, or Benjamin, whose work would generally smoothly pass muster as theoretical tools for the purposes of theorising in anthropology. I introduce in this essay, a different axis , of what constitutes Theory for the purposes of anthropological methods, from the domain of Religion, but not necessarily religious.
The 4th Sri. Hunasikote Abdul Ghaffar Annual Memorial Lecture is being organised on March 15, 2024 from 2.30 – 4.30 pm. The lecture titled “Castes and Minorities: State and Constitution in a Majoritarian Electocracy,” will be delivered by our guest speaker Prof. Satish Despande.
About the Lecture Series
This memorial lecture was initiated by the Institute of Public Policy with the support of Prof. Adbul Aziz, Chair on Religious Minorities, NLSIU in memory of his father Sri. Hunasikote Abdul Ghaffar. Mr. Ghaffar passed away in 1982 in Hunasikote at the age of 74.
The first lecture in this series was delivered by Prof. Karkala Seetharam on April 3, 2019 on the topic “Human Rights as Public Policy.” The second lecture was delivered by Shri. Cyril Diengdoh, IAS, on April 4, 2022 on the topic “Challenges of NREGA in Sixth Schedule Areas.”
About the Speaker
Prof. Deshpande currently is Prof. M.N Srinivas Chair Professor at the Institute of Social and Economic Change, Bangalore. He has worked as a Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi. He has also worked at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies and the Institute of Economic Growth (both in Delhi) and the University of Hyderabad. His research interests include caste and class inequalities, higher education today, politics and history of the social sciences, issues of language in academia and contemporary social theory. He has various national and international publications to his credit.
The 9th cohort of the MPP programme at NLSIU is organising a public seminar as a culmination of their course work on March 14 & 15, 2024. This two-day event will conclude with the annual Hunasikote Memorial Lecture on March 15, 2024.
About the Seminar
In contemporary forms of effective governance, policy paradigms serve as overarching frameworks that shape the discourse, decision-making processes, and outcomes for citizen and state within various sectors. Rooted in linguistic, normative, epistemic, empirical, and methodological dimensions, policy paradigms delineate meaningful problems, define data worthiness, and regulate the policy process itself (Stone, 2012). As such, they play a pivotal role in governing the trajectory of policy development and implementation, often coinciding with common sense and assuming an ideological status that makes them challenging to question (Hall,1993).
In this seminar, while we initiate a broad discussion on contemporary policy paradigms, our key concern is to develop a discussion on the evolution of policy paradigms, often influenced by myriad factors, including socio-political, economic, and cultural shifts. For instance, the transition from the personal development paradigm to the human capital paradigm in education reflects broader societal changes, such as the increasing emphasis on economic efficiency and productivity (Macpherson, 2015). This paradigmatic shift has profound implications for educational discourse and policy options, as it redefines the goals and priorities of education to align with economic imperatives (Marginson, 1993).
Therefore, through this seminar we will highlight the interconnectedness of themes within policy discourse that reflects the dynamic nature of policy paradigms. It is noteworthy that in response to paradigmatic shifts vis-a-vis shaping policy priorities and decision-making processes the themes such as economic efficiency, social justice, and equity have invariably emerged and evolved in contemporary context. Moreover, the introduction of new paradigms by cultural strangers, whether internal dissenters or external agents, have incessantly challenged existing norms and fostered policy innovation (Schmidt,2008). These outsiders bring divergent perspectives rooted in their unique cultural backgrounds, enabling a critical examination of prevailing policy paradigms and ideologies (Béland & Cox,2016).
Schedule
The seminar will cover the following themes across different sessions – Reframing Public Policy for a Climate-Safe Future, Technological Governance: Rethinking Policy for a Sustainable and Equitable Future, Informality, World of Work, Technology Adoption & Job Displacement, Changing Employment conditions, Digitization: Bridging Intersectional Boundaries in Contemporary Public Policy, Leaving No One Behind: Examining Sector-Specific Policies in India.
For more information on the schedule and detailed concept notes, download the brochure here.
Sri. Hunasikote Abdul Ghaffar Annual Memorial Lecture
The 4th Hunasikote Memorial Lecture on the topic “Castes and Minorities: State and Constitution in a Majoritarian Electocracy,” will be delivered by Prof. Satish Despande. This lecture will also be the concluding event of the public seminar on March 15, 2024 (2.30 pm to 4.30 pm).
About the Speaker
Prof. Deshpande currently is Prof. M.N Srinivas Chair Professor at the Institute of Social and Economic Change, Bangalore. He has worked as a Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi. He has also worked at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies and the Institute of Economic Growth (both in Delhi) and the University of Hyderabad. His research interests include caste and class inequalities, higher education today, politics and history of the social sciences, issues of language in academia and contemporary social theory. He has various national and international publications to his credit.
In this week’s faculty seminar, Manpreet Singh Dhillon, will present his paper titled “The inscription of DNA as a technology of truth in India”, on Wednesday, 13th March, 2024. Dr Sushmita Pati will be the discussant.
Abstract
This paper demonstrates how DNA evidence came to acquire an exceptional legal status as incontrovertible ‘scientific’ evidence in India. The paper begins by showing how forensic DNA came to occupy a privileged epistemic authority in Indian courtrooms by focusing on a key geneticist and his molecular biology lab which served as the epicentre of producing DNA reports in the first decade of DNA typing technology. Next, it focuses on a contentious case in which DNA evidence was first contested, albeit unsuccessfully in court. Examining this controversial case, this paper argues that there has been a discursive production of certainty around DNA evidence in the Indian legal system with the judges acting as the arbiters of truth. By explaining the emergence, acceptance, and normalization of DNA evidence in Indian courtrooms, the paper explicates how the law produced a ‘regime of truth’ around forensic DNA in the criminal justice system. The paper concludes that the inscription of DNA evidence as a technology of truth in India represents the continuance of colonial dependence on forensic evidence to deliver rational and objective justice by the post-colonial Indian legal system.
The Chair on Consumer Law and Practice at NLSIU is organising a National Webinar on “Navigating Consumer Protection in the E-Commerce Metaverse: Safeguarding Privacy in the Virtual Marketplace” on March 15, 2024, from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM IST.
The aim of the National Webinar is to deepen understanding and foster collaboration on the challenges and opportunities presented by the integration of e-commerce into the metaverse, focusing on consumer protection and privacy. It seeks to equip participants with the knowledge and strategies needed to navigate the complexities of virtual transactions, ensuring a secure, transparent, and consumer-friendly digital economy.
Concept Note
The concept of the metaverse has captivated technologists, entrepreneurs, and consumers, offering a glimpse into a future where virtual reality, augmented reality, and immersive digital experiences converge. This vision, fueled by technological advancements and a growing digital appetite, holds profound implications for e-commerce and consumer protection.
E-commerce platforms are pivotal within this landscape, serving as bustling hubs where consumers can engage with products and services in novel ways. However, as the metaverse expands, so do the challenges surrounding consumer protection and privacy. Traditional notions of commerce and consumer rights are being reshaped, raising critical questions about trust, transparency, and accountability.
As individuals increasingly transact in virtual spaces, they face risks from data breaches, identity theft, and fraudulent schemes. The rapid proliferation of e-commerce platforms within the metaverse amplifies concerns regarding privacy and data protection. Users leave behind personal information and behavioral data, ripe for exploitation by companies and advertisers. Ensuring consumer privacy and data control is complex due to the opacity of virtual environments and the intricate algorithms governing them.
In India, legislation is pivotal to establish a robust framework for consumer protection and privacy in the e-commerce metaverse. The Consumer Protection Act 2019 and Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules 2020 provide a legal basis for safeguarding consumer rights in online transactions. The Information Technology Act 2000 and related regulations govern electronic transactions, digital signatures, and cybersecurity, further ensuring online safety.
Looking forward, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 aims to bolster data protection measures and regulate personal data collection, processing, and storage in digital environments. Against this backdrop, the National Webinar on “Navigating Consumer Protection in the ECommerce Metaverse: Safeguarding Privacy in the Virtual Marketplace” seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of this evolving landscape.
The webinar aims to fosters dialogue, shares insights, and collaborates on strategies to address challenges and opportunities in the convergence of e-commerce and the metaverse. Through insightful discussions, expert presentations, and interactive sessions, participants will explore key themes such as the implications of the metaverse for e-commerce, the evolving landscape of consumer protection in digital environments, privacy concerns in virtual marketplaces, and best practices for ensuring trust and confidence in online transactions. Through interdisciplinary dialogue and problem-solving, the webinar aims to chart a path forward toward a more secure, transparent, and consumer-friendly digital economy in the era of the metaverse.
Download the webinar brochure, to view the full schedule of the webinar.
How do I register?
The registration form is available here.
The Zoom link to join the webinar is available here (Meeting ID: 997 6150 0897, Passcode: 481179).
For additional information or queries, please write to
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), is hosting an online workshop on ‘Enhancing Consumer Grievance Redressal through Large Language Models (LLMs).’ This event is scheduled for Saturday, March 16, 2024, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Background
In November 2023, the National Law School of India University, with support from Meta, announced a new research project in the field of generative AI and legal system reforms. This project aims to explore how large language models (LLMs) can enhance the efficiency of India’s consumer grievance redressal system. The project will be executed along with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), and in collaboration with the Department Of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) as the knowledge partner.
In this project, we will use Llama 2, Meta’s publicly accessible large language model, to develop and test a citizen-focused chatbot and a decision-assist tool in consumer law. The chatbot’s purpose is to streamline consumer complaint procedures and provide answers to consumer law queries in India. The decision-assist tool, also a part of this research, aims to facilitate the search and summarization of case laws, offering support to judicial authorities in consumer affairs. The project will be anchored with the Chair on Consumer Law and Practice (CLAP).
About the Workshop
The online workshop will discuss the possibilities and challenges of using LLMs for the purpose of consumer grievance redressal in India. In particular, the workshop will discuss:
Innovative Use of LLMs in the Legal Sector: Exploring the transformative potential and the hurdles.
Benchmarking LLMs for Legal Tasks: Analysis of current LLMs’ performance in legal applications.
The Consumer Law Chatbot Initiative: Key elements in designing a custom chatbot from open source LLM models.
Mapping and Developing a Training Corpus for Consumer Landscape: Strategies for crafting an exhaustive and effective dataset.
The Imperative for a Consumer Needs Survey: The need to identify and bridge service gaps.
Lessons from the Adoption of LLMs in Other Industries
This workshop aims to foster a collaborative dialogue among professionals and academics working at the confluence of AI, law, and consumer rights. Your expertise and insights would be invaluable to shaping the future direction of the project.
To register for the webinar, click here or on the link provided above.
A three-day training programme on ‘Environmental Laws, Compliance, Enforcement, and Regulation’ was organized by the Centre for Environmental Law, Education, Research and Advocacy in collaboration with the Department of Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) at NLSIU between February 26-28, 2024. Around 15 participants representing the Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Boards and the industry participated in this event.
The programme traversed the wide domain of environmental laws ranging from the domestic regime on waste management to the procedural mechanisms concerning pollution control. It comprised sessions that shed light on the framework of environmental remedies, its interplay with criminal law and applicable evidentiary standards.
Besides being familiarized with the powers and functions of the National Green Tribunal, the participants were also introduced to regulatory dimensions of emerging green technologies and norms underlying environmental decision-making including economic considerations. The training programme concluded with an enriching panel discussion on the operational hurdles faced by Pollution Control Boards and how their institutional capacities can be augmented for public good.
Schedule
