The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), is offering the second edition of its elective course module, ‘SIAC and Institutional Arbitration.’ The course will be taught in-person at the NLSIU campus from April 22 to April 25, 2025.
This module, a cornerstone of our Law and Practice of International Arbitration course, offers a unique opportunity to dive into the world of international arbitration. Through this module, participants will gain invaluable insights into the pivotal role that arbitral institutions like SIAC play in shaping the landscape of international arbitration. Key topics will include the administration of arbitration, enforcement of arbitral awards, investor-state dispute settlement, and the development of arbitral best practices.
Course Highlights
Taught in-person at NLSIU campus in Bengaluru from April 22 to April 25, 2025.
Focus on the practical and theoretical aspects of institutional arbitration, with real-world insights into the functioning of SIAC.
Candidates who are currently enrolled in full-time undergraduate or postgraduate law degree programme from a recognised University in India are eligible to apply.
We also welcome applications from legal professionals and academics interested in international arbitration.
Fee
As there will be limited slots to audit the SIAC Module, registration will be based on a selection and subject to full payment of course fees as mentioned below:
Students: Rs. 7,500 (+ 18% GST)
Working professionals: Rs. 20,000 (+18% GST)
Please note: The registration fees covers the certificate, reading materials, and meals provided at the University. As this is a non-residential course, participants are requested to make their own accommodation and travel arrangements to the NLSIU campus.
Registration
Candidates interested in enrolling in the course should submit a formal request for enrolment through this link by March 30, 2025.
The selection shall be primarily based on the CV, academic and professional background of the candidate, and statement of purpose. During the selection process diversity of backgrounds shall be given due consideration.
Successful applicants will be notified by early April and they need to complete full payment of the course fee to NLSIU for enrolment.
Important Notes
Auditing participants will be expected to participate in class activities and class discussions, but do not otherwise undertake the formal assessment modes for the course, such as any research papers or exams.
A certificate of participation will be issued to auditing participants who meet a minimum attendance requirement of 80%.
There will be no refund of any fees should the participant cancel the registration or fail to attend the course.
For academic queries please contact Prof. Harisankar K Sathyapalan at . For other queries, write to .
We are pleased to welcome our alumna, Dr. Priya Pillai, who has joined us as Professor of Practice. We wish her the very best for her professional journey at NLSIU.
Priya is a lawyer and international law specialist, with two decades of expertise in the areas of international justice, international human rights, transitional justice, peace and conflict, and humanitarian issues.
She has worked at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) headquarters in Geneva on legal issues in the humanitarian sphere, at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on trials in the aftermath of the Balkans conflict, and with various civil society organisations on implementation of international law (human rights, rule of law and transitional justice). She has been involved in different aspects of peace and transitional justice initiatives, in South and South-East Asia, and she writes and advocates on these issues regularly. She consults on various aspects of international law, for organisations such as Amnesty International, WHO and the IFRC.
Priya received her BA LLB (Hons) from NLSIU in 2000, LLM from New York University School of Law, and her PhD from Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva.
The first edition of the conference centring on the ‘Role of Employment and Environment’ was held from March 28-30, 2023. The conference focussed on inclusive development, especially the role of employment opportunities in a changing world of work and the environment in envisioning inclusiveness. The conference included contributions from senior academicians, policy makers and legal professionals as well paper-presentations from selected young scholars from across the subcontinent.
Following the success of the first edition of this conference, NLSIU and INET-YSI partnered to organise the second edition of the conference in 2025, with a similar format. The conference aimed to examine the complex interplay of housing, law, economics, and spatial justice in an unequal world.
Schedule
The three-day conference kicked off with an inaugural address by Mr. Alain Bertaud, Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Mercatus Center, George Mason University. Mr. Bertaud addressed a gathering of NLSIU students and participating young scholars from across other institutions in his talk on ‘Cities Seen As Labour Markets,’ where he postulated that unequal access to labour markets is an important cause of urban poverty.
The second day of the conference began with an expert panel discussion on ‘Housing and Urban Land Management in the Context of Inequality.’ The third day opened with an expert panel on ‘Social and Economic Dimensions of Urban Housing.’ In addition to the panel discussions, Day 2 and 3 also saw paper presentations by young scholars, who were paired with expert discussants.
The conference ended with a valedictory address on ‘Urban Inclusion and Housing as a Form of Agency’ by Dr. Shailaja Fennell, Professor of Economic Security and Resilience; Deputy HoD, Department of Land Economy; Director, Centre of South Asian Studies; Fellow and Director of Studies, Jesus College University of Cambridge.
Dr. rer. pol. Sattwick Dey Biswas, Volunteer, Coordinator, Young Scholars Initiative (YSI), Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET)
“Being part of the 2nd Edition of the Inclusive Development Conference as a volunteer and an organiser of INET’s Young Scholars Initiative was an enriching experience. The conference brought together young and senior scholars to engage in critical discussions on housing, urban governance, and spatial planning and justice, while exploring themes like informality, financialisation, market and social forces and identity politics in housing policies. As a young scholar working in the field of land policy, it was a rare opportunity for me to connect with fellow scholars working in India.
One of the most rewarding aspects was creating an interactive format where young scholars received thoughtful and detailed feedback on their work from senior academics. I want to thank all the senior scholars for sharing their valuable time to read the papers of the young scholars and for sharing detailed feedback.
I see this conference as a multidimensional space where young and senior scholars come together to exchange ideas essential for reshaping economic thinking and fostering alternative perspectives without prejudice. I want to thank NLSIU and its Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion (CSSI) for being a wonderful coorganiser, generous host, and for their gentle but professional management.”
Reflections from the Conference
Mr. Alain Bertaud, Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Mercatus Center, George Mason University
On the planning of cities:
“Planners, or architects like me, have an ideal city in mind, and they would like the city they live in to become this ideal city. This, I think, is totally wrong and will never succeed. I think a city is made by what I call ‘spontaneous order’. That means the people who are living in the city invent new things, create shops, restaurants, cinemas, etc., and this has to be allowed to happen. And the planner cannot know in advance how many cinemas are required in the city.
And so, they should be very modest, and they should also concentrate on the things they can do, like managing streets, managing the space on streets, for instance, having walkable sidewalks rather than agonising about things that don’t matter. Like what should be the minimum size of a bedroom? The consumer will decide that.
We are not there to invent a new city. We are there to respond to the demands of the citizens. And again, the criteria is whether those citizens — all of them — benefit from the city.”
On the conference:
“I am always very happy to see people much younger than me, because they have a future. And, I’m sure that eventually they will be in command. They will be influential. Ideas percolate through the mind of people. Maybe one day they will be confronted with a problem that I have addressed, and maybe something that I have said will inspire them, hopefully.”
Dr. Shailaja Fennell, Professor of Economic Security and Resilience,
Deputy HoD, Department of Land Economy,
Director, Centre of South Asian Studies,
Fellow and Director of Studies, Jesus College University of Cambridge
“It’s a fabulous idea to have an interdisciplinary conference that is allowing us to think about housing and land management across the social sciences with lawyers and economists and architects. I looked at all the papers [submitted by the young scholars]. There’s really a high quality of papers, engagement, rich empirical detail, lots of conceptual thinking. So it’s great to see the next generation of scholarship working on this. What I address in my valedictory address is how we could reconceptualise the housing market by regarding housing not as simply an asset, though of course it is an asset, but as a way for human beings to live and to be. And so then we think of housing as a form of human agency, and that would give us a new set of framings within which we can think about urban inclusion.”
Dr. Ashima Sood, Associate Professor, Director, Centre for Urbanism and Cultural Economics, Anant National University, Ahmedabad
“I’ve really enjoyed the selection of papers, which speak to the ‘contemporary Indian city’, especially the matter of housing and how informal housing is transforming the city. This includes, for example, redevelopment in the core areas, which some of the speakers highlighted. A lot of previously undocumented kinds of phenomena related to housing have now found recognition in the conference papers. And not just recognition, but actually careful analysis and documentation.”
Dr. Chetan Choithani, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru
“It was great to be a part of National Law School of India University’s conference on Housing and Urban Land Management in an Unequal World. The conference brought together early career and senior academics to discuss policy-relevant issues of recent trends in urban expansion, massive land transformations to support urban growth and growing inequalities in access to affordable housing. Discussions on the questions of urban land and housing tend to focus on large cities. But urban expansion in India is increasingly led by small places, involving former rural regions turning into urban centers. These places remain ignored even though they involve millions of people being affected by rural-urban transition. If we are to address the challenges of urban poverty and inequality, we need to also pay attention to these new urban geographies.”
“While the conference is largely focussed on housing, I was looking at the urban question. And within that, I focussed largely on the transformations of neighbourhoods and how those are lending to the larger housing question and how those need to be grasped. And within that, a further focus was really on the neighbourhood and how do you start to understand those transformations.
Conferences are good in the sense that, one, it brings in a whole diversity of perspectives, and also allows for the floating of certain ideas, which I think need traction, a new direction, a new dynamic that needs better research, but also policy attention and practitioner focus. And I think that at a very personal level, it pushes me to explore in a deeper sense, some of the questions that are there in my own head and perhaps write about them.”
Tikender Singh Panwar, Visiting Senior Fellow, Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi
“I’m extremely grateful to the National Law School Bengaluru for organising this wonderful conference. I’m so glad that we are at least accepting this reality that we’re living in an unequal world makes this conference all the more vibrant and, also, quite objective.
This whole question of inequality creeping in the cities and especially from the housing perspective also needs to be seen in the larger ecosystem of the way urbanisation has unfolded in our country. To me, I think the processes are very important. And in India, unfortunately, urbanisation is not preceded by industrialisation where the labour gets adjusted. It’s basically informalisation that is driving India’s organisation, and it’s poverty driven. In this context, if we have to look at some of the sustainable futures, then we must recognise the fact that informalisation is there to stay for a longer time. And it is in this informalisation that the engagement of the state also has to come in the form of very strong interventions to be made, both at the governance level and also at some of the infrastructure level.
Housing, if you see in the last couple of decades, has become completely commoditised. We have to come out of this mindset of what I call as free market economics, and have to go back to the basics of city planning, which means that the city must be planned by city makers. How do you create that structure of creating the infrastructure in the city? That has to be seen. Especially when the marginalised are completely eliminated.
Until and unless we are able to bring in those processes, I think it would be some exercise of big tech consultants driving the force and then leading to some of the very simple solutions that can be afforded. If it’s informal sector driven, then you require a complete new paradigm of networking and reclaiming the city — what I call right to the city.
I think those processes were very vividly discussed here at the conference.”
Sheema Fatima, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, NMIMS, Mumbai and Urban Researcher
I thought this was a nice initiative where a lot of young scholars got an opportunity to talk about their work. And the best part was that it was not too crowded, so it was not rushed. And everybody took time to read the paper because there were few, and everyone took a lot of time to even comment. So it was almost like the commenters were also invested in the conversation. Unfortunately, in large scale conferences, the young scholars are sidelined and, you know, the dominant voices are always repeatedly heard. So in that way, I thought it was very nice, and I absolutely enjoyed it. It was a great learning for me also to hear from a lot of young scholars because, you know, methodologically also we went through different geographies. Everybody’s pushing the narrative about how to look at housing, etc.
Through my own work in this conference, I spoke about how you look at a non metropolitan city like Patna, not through trappings of what is formal and informal. Through my work, I’ve looked at how caste impressions are visible in the spatial layout of the city. And, we imagine there was no process of urbanisation in Patna because it doesn’t fit the standard narratives of what is a process for urbanisation. But yet the city exists, and it has a rich history. I had good feedback and the whole panel was very interesting.”
Dr. Jayprakash Chadchan, Professor, School of Architecture, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru
“It was a wonderful time conversing with such intellectual minds here. Thank you for the invitation. I think the theme is appropriate and very much a need at this crossroad when India is aspiring to be a developed nation. As I said in my talk that housing and land management are two pillars which will be a foundation for this. Because they always act as the other side of the urban development process. Because without housing, without land, you cannot witness sustainable development, especially in a diverse country like ours with a lot of aspirations and, lot of upcoming cities and towns of varied sizes. I think we are having this dialogue at the right moment.
It’s time for all the stakeholders to come together whether it’s academicians, researchers, industry stakeholders, or public authority officials. They should work closely together to outline a blueprint for our future Indian cities in a meaningful, sustainable and holistic way. We should be asking how we can develop sustainable cities, while at the same time, giving an opportunity for all the aspiring youth. We must empower them in the next decade or two, create employment and take care of their housing and other facilities to promote well-being. So I think this is a fantastic platform and we need to continue this process of dialogue, in the upcoming sessions.”
Reflections from the Participating Young Scholars
Mohammed Hashim, PhD Scholar, IFMR Krea University
Paper Title
“Illuminating Inequality: Intra-State Economic Convergence and Regional Disparities in Karnataka, 2 India”
Abstract:
The phenomenon of regional economic convergence, where poorer regions grow faster than richer ones, thus reducing the income gap, has been at the forefront of economic research. Even though many studies look into cross-country and inter-state convergence, little attention has been given to intra-state economic convergence. Us ing village-level nightlight luminosity data as a proxy for economic activity, we test absolute and conditional economic convergence within Karnataka, India. We also examine regional disparity in the state’s growth of nightlights over the past few decades. We show that less developed regions are catching up with their more prosperous counterparts at a higher rate than predicted by previous literature. However, regional disparities still exist in the state, with the Hyderabad-Karnataka region significantly lagging behind the rest of Karnataka in terms of growth. These findings have essential policy implications in India, where there is more emphasis on inter-state than intra-state disparities. The findings of this study contribute to the existing knowledge of intra-state economic convergence.
Quote:
“The conference was an excellent and professionally organized event. The conference truly valued young scholars’ work by assigning a dedicated professor as a discussant for each paper, ensuring insightful and constructive feedback. I benefitted lot from the discussions within and out of the seminar room, gaining exposure to new methodologies and fresh perspectives that will help me conduct more in-depth research.”
Sai Rama Raju Marella, Senior Associate, Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), Bengaluru
Paper Title:
“Challenges in low-income shared rental housing (LI-SRH) markets in India: A case study of two formally operated shared rental housing suppliers in Bengaluru”
Abstract:
As our cities expand, many migrants find their way into urban areas and face a severe dearth in housing. This paper examines a segment of the Shared Rental Housing (SRH) market – registered Low-income Shared Rental Housing (LI-SRH). The unaided LI-SRH market, whether registered or unregistered, offers inexpensive shelter to those who migrate to cities for education and employment. One of the main features of shared rental housing for tenants of low-income is that these housing facilities are operated and maintained by registered or unregistered rental operators who are neither the tenant nor the landowner. The unregistered segment (also called paying guest accommodations) dominates the LI-SRH market but registered rental housing operators also play an important role in forming the third key stakeholders in the shared rental housing market — Rental Housing Management Companies (RHMCs). The registered RHMCs, however, are not identified or recognised by the government or any agency, which negatively impacts them.
Based on qualitative research conducted in Bengaluru, India, this paper examines how business models of RHMCs in the low-income shared rental housing market are impacted by various factors even as they provide cheap housing for low-income migrants while maintaining the minimum standards of affordable, viable and adequate housing. It explores their relationship with unregistered shared rental housing providers and their challenges in navigating the market without any support from the government. This paper brings to light an under-studied yet key stakeholder in the LI-SRH market and serves as a much-needed starting point for future research.
Quote:
“The inclusive development conference is so timely to have discussions on the topics of housing and urban land management in the current socio-economic scenario that India is facing right now. The panel discussions were well curated with insights from diverse perspectives of Law, Sociology, Policy and Governance that were thought provoking and insightful.”
Brishti Banerjee, PhD student, Institution, Ashank Desai Centre for Policy Studies, IIT Bombay
Paper title: “Politics of Policy Categories: Informal Settlements in Guwahati”
Abstract:
The paper critically examines how the regional state constructs policy (slum) categories in the contested urban geography of Guwahati city in Northeast India. It exposes the internal incoherence between policy frameworks and governance practices. The paper argues that policy (slum) categories are unstable, nominal, and have a spectral presence. In practice, the governance of urban informality in the city is shaped more by powerful regional political currents.
Quote:
“I thank the conference organizers for this incredible opportunity. It was an illuminating experience to hear from such extraordinary speakers and learn about their research. I especially appreciated the energy of our young scholars cohort — it was truly inspiring to be part of such engaging discussions. I have received some great comments on my paper that will help me further reflect on my work.”
Sankar Varma, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Christ (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru
Paper title: “Creation of the ‘Other’ in Urban Discourse – A Case Study of Kochi City, Kerala”
Abstract:
With the emergence of cities as growth centers, the question that naturally arises is whether they have really emerged as a space for inclusive development. Do all urban citizens have equal access to basic amenities or some of them face discrimination and lead a life as ‘the other’ in the urban settlement? If so, who are the ‘others’? This study is an attempt to explore this question in the context of contemporary urban development in India.
The process of gentrification brought about a demographic and economic shift to cities. It is an urban condition where wealthier new comers and real estate developers dominate the larger urban space through sidelining urban poor and the working class. The metropolitan capital governs the cities today and the same is deeply entrenched in the contours of place-making and identity formations. The case of Kochi is a classic example to be delved upon in such a global context.
This study therefore takes place-making and identity formation as key determinants in order to understand the very creation of the ‘other’ in an urban space through taking the case of Kochi city in Kerala. Drawing on qualitative studies documented in the city of Kochi, Kerala, the study attempts to complement the economic aspect of othering with other related dimensions.
Quote:
“ Othering is a continuous process that manifests across housing spectrums in an urban space.”
NLSIU alumna Vasundhara Naik (NLS BA LLB ‘98) was appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario, Family Court, in Ottawa in March 2025. We congratulate her and wish her all the very best for this new phase in her career.
Educational background
Justice Naik completed her BA LLB (Hons) from NLS in 1998, where she was the recipient of the Mrs. Madhu Bhasin Noble Student Award for Legal Aid Clinic. She later pursued an LLM in Human Rights and Intellectual Property Law from Lund University, Sweden in 2003.
Professional journey
After completing her BA LLB, Justice Naik began her legal career in New Delhi with a human rights and criminal defense firm, later specialising in intellectual property law at a boutique firm. She also served as in-house counsel for Cisco Systems in India and as Brand Protection Manager in Singapore.
She was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 2010. Prior to her appointment to the Bench, she was a founding partner at Robins Naik LLP in Ottawa. She has practiced primarily in family, child protection, and adoption law. She has also been involved with Indigenous organisations, women’s shelters, and grassroots initiatives, offering pro-bono services to marginalized clients, including those facing language barriers.
The Editorial Board of the Socio-Legal Review (SLR) is delighted to share the publication of their latest issue: Volume 20(1).
The Socio-Legal Review (SLR) is a student-run, double blind peer-reviewed journal, of NLSIU. SLR enters its twentieth year of publication with this Volume. This important milestone galvanised the Editorial Board 2023- 24 to not only build on the two decades of foundational insight and work that has gone into the making of the Journal, but also rethink and experiment. This year, in conversations with the Faculty Board, the editorial board revised their Aims and Scope to more clearly emphasise the interdisciplinary thrust of the Journal, welcoming research that “critically enquires into the intersections between the law and the social sciences, especially in the South Asian context.”
Volume 20(1) demonstrates this push toward interdisciplinarity through the sheer diversity of its authorship, methods, problems, and form. The six contributions in this Issue bring together insights from science and technology studies, legal history and writing pedagogy, empirical social sciences and philosophy, ethnographic fieldwork, queer and gender studies, and political theory to examine real questions concerning the world today—from data governance to higher education, legal reform to forest rights, marriage equality to constitutional democracy. We hope that the Issue demonstrates how interdisciplinarity, when done well, can enrich our study of the law and indeed, of the world at large.
The Editorial Board of the Indian Journal of Law and Technology (IJLT) for 2024-25 is inviting original and unpublished submissions for Volume 21 of the Journal and the IJLT Blog, on a rolling basis. The previous volumes of the Journal can be found here.
About IJLT
IJLT is a student-run, peer-reviewed law journal published annually by the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru. IJLT is widely read and is available internationally on databases such as Westlaw, HeinOnline, UGC CARE, Legal Information Institute of India, SCC Online, and Manupatra. IJLT is also the first and pioneering law journal in India devoted exclusively to the interface of law and
technology.
IJLT welcomes submissions that demonstrate a strong connection between technology and law. The journal publishes scholarly work in diverse areas, including intellectual property rights, internet governance, information and communication technologies, privacy rights, digital freedoms, openness, telecommunications policy, media law, innovation, and civil liberties in the context of technology. Additionally, IJLT emphasizes perspectives on contemporary issues at the intersection of law, technology, industry, and policy.
Categories of Submissions
1. Articles: 5000-12000 words
2. Essays: 3000-5000 words
3. Case Notes, Legislative Comments, Book/Article Reviews: 2000-5000 words
Submission Guidelines
1. Format of Document: Please ensure that your submission is made as a Microsoft Word document (.docx).
2. References: Citations must conform to the 4th edition of the Oxford University Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities (OSCOLA).
3. Need for Abstract: An abstract (not more than 250 words) must be submitted, concurrently with the manuscript.
4. Exclusivity of Submissions: Submissions made to IJLT must be on an exclusive basis and not be under concurrent consideration by any other academic or non-academic publication.
5. Co-authorship: Co-authorship (up to a maximum of 3 authors) is permitted.
6. No personal information in the Manuscript: Submitted manuscripts must not contain any biographical information regarding the authors, such as names, institutional affiliations, acknowledgments, etc.
7. Submission process: To submit your manuscript, kindly visit the IJLT Digital Commons Repository. For further instructions and clarifications for submissions on this platform, kindly refer to this guide.
IJLT Blog
The Blog is a parallel initiative by the IJLT to publish scholarly, but concise, articles in the area of technology law and accepts articles ranging between 1500-2500 words.
Categories of Submissions
1. Responses to previously published IJLT articles or blog posts.
2. Comments on contemporary legal developments (e.g., recent judgments, legislative changes).
3. Reviews of recent books related to law and technology.
Submission Guidelines
1. Word count: 1,500–2,500 words (flexible based on quality).
2. Format: Please ensure that your submission is made as a Microsoft Word document (.docx).
3. References: Use hyperlinks for references and open-access sources are preferred. Minimal footnoting is allowed.
4. Co-authorship: Co-authorship (up to a maximum of 2 authors) is permitted.
5. Submission process: Kindly submit the manuscript via this form.
In case of any queries or concerns regarding the journal, please contact us at or visit our website.
The Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion (CSSI) at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram Research Institute, Department of Social Welfare, Government of Karnataka, organised an eight-day research methodology course in social science from February 5 to 12, 2025 at the NLSIU campus.
The programme was designed for PhD scholars, researchers, and think tanks from various universities in the state. The diverse group of 50 scholars were selected from across 18 universities in Karnataka, with priority to scholars from SC/ST, OBC categories and women PhD scholars.
Workshop Coordinator:
Dr. R.V. Chandrashekar,
Research Assistant,
Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion (CSSI), NLSIU
Aim of the course
Research is an integral part of the growth and expansion of social sciences. Its importance is enhanced much more in a modern, globalised society where development has attained additional dimensions. Social science research faces a challenge to thoroughly equip itself to meet the ever growing needs of the society that is transforming at a rapid pace. Often, demarcations (into rural, urban, caste, gender, etc.) are blurred by the advancement in technology and changing socio-economic scenarios. Societal problems are assuming wide-ranging complexities and under these circumstances, it becomes imperative to approach research from a preliminary and systematic understanding of the methods in social science research since the methods have also expanded enormously in their scope and application over a period of time.
Focus of the course
Research methodology, a critical component of training for any social science research programme, seldom receives the attention it deserves in most academic institutions in India. Methodologies are often conflated with methods and techniques of data analyses, with limited understanding of the epistemological frameworks or logic underlying various techniques and methods. Even among techniques, quantitative methods are over-privileged as more scientific, Social sciences are also increasingly drawing on developments in natural sciences and technology studies to enhance their explanatory domain. All of this has strengthened the scope for trans-disciplinary dialogue and research integrating perspectives and tools from varied disciplines.
Content of the course
Nature of knowledge and theory: theoretical approaches to social science research.
The art of doing research: selection of a research problem, research design, formulating hypotheses and indicators, and methods of sampling and inference.
Statistics and econometrics with hands-on experiences.
Qualitative and quantitative methods; ethnographic studies; case studies; new advances in methods of social science research.
Ethical and gender issues in social science research; Action research.
Interpreting research;
Consolidation of research findings, research report and dissemination
Exposure of statistical packages like SPSS, STATA etc.
Additionally, the course also explored the converse enumerate scientific method and its basic postulates, data analysis, basic tools in SPSS, qualities of good research, steps in conducting research, ethics of research, types of research, and research design.
Reflections from the course
The course was attended by 50 researchers from socially disadvantaged communities who gained knowledge on the importance of quality research and its benefits.
Skilled resource persons participated in the eight-day course to demonstrate research problems and how and when to use different technologies, how to conduct analyses, how to use library and internet information in research, how to write reports, and the importance of interdisciplinary studies.
The participating scholars expressed that courses like these should be conducted at all the universities in Karnataka as research would benefit from the training. The participants discussed the need for conducting such training courses for research mentors and that at least two such sessions should be organised at the state level each year.
Inauguration
The course was inaugurated on February 5, 2025, by Sri N.C. Muniyappa IAS (Retd), Former Chief Secretary, Karnataka. He shared his life experiences and the challenges he faced during his student life, motivating the participating research scholars through his own stories as a junior research fellow (JRF). He also spoke about his journey as a scientist in the agriculture department, before his work as an IAS officer in various departments in the state of Karnataka.
The presidential remarks were delivered by Prof. Babu Mathew, Director, Centre for Labour Studies at NLSIU.
Valedictory
The course ended with a valedictory ceremony on February 12, 2025. The valedictory speech was delivered by Dr. E. Venkataiah, IAS (Retd.), SCSP/TSP Nodal Agency Advisor, Department of Social Welfare, Government of Karnataka. The chief guest for the programme was Sri Rajesh G. Gowda, Director of Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram Research Institute.
The National Law School of India University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Corporate Law Service Academy, Manesar, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India to deliver the Post Graduate Diploma in Business and Allied Laws (PGDBAL). This programme will be delivered to Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS) officers, trainees, probationers and in-service, as part of their professional training.
The MoU was entered into at the NLSIU in the presence of Mrs. Monika Gupta, Joint Director, ICLS Academy, Manesar and Prof. (Dr.) N S Nigam, NLSIU’s Registrar. The MoU is aimed at conducting training programmes for the officers of Indian Corporate Law Services. This renewal of the MoU fosters the arrangement between both the institutions for a period of five years. Prof Nigam and Mrs. Monika Gupta also discussed the opportunities for deeper engagement between the University and Academy to cater to the developments of the field.
About the Programme
This programme will center around law & legal systems, commercial laws (including specialized areas of corporate law), procedural laws, economic laws, administrative law and ethics, finally leading to the conferment of Post Graduate Diploma in Business & Allied Laws (PGDBAL); this will be exclusively for its Officer Trainees while they are undergoing their ’Induction Course’ at Indian Corporate Law Services Academy (ICLS Academy), Manesar along with serving ICLS officers of Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
The programme will be open for an Officer Trainee undergoing their Induction course at ICLS ACADEMY, Manesar and In – Service ICLS Officers of Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The programme will be conducted at NLSIU, Bengaluru.
Barath Arjun is Editor-in-Chief, and Saumitra Khullar, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Blog, of NLSIR – a bi-annual, student edited, peer-reviewed law review published by the University.
This interview was conducted at the conclusion of the Justice E S Venkataramiah Centennial Memorial Lecture, organised by NLSIU. The conversation spans across a range of topics, including reflecting on the Constitution on its 75th anniversary, judicial interpretation, mediation in India, and fourth branch institutions. A transcript of this interview has been recently published online as part of NLSIR’s new initiative: NLSIR On Line.
NLSIR Online is the companion blog to the NLSIR journal. Launched in 2018, it serves as a platform for concise and timely academic commentary on contemporarily relevant issues in Indian law. NLSIR Online mirrors the mandate of the journal. We welcome submissions on all areas of the law, including case comments, interdisciplinary analyses, and comparative studies.
The Safai Karmachari Kavalu Samithi, Karnataka; the Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion, National Law School of India University; and Thamate (ತಮಟೆ) Centre for Rural Empowerment, and the Centre for Law & Policy Research jointly organised a two-day National Conclave on ‘Implementation and Challenges of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013,’ on February 19 and 20, 2025 at NLSIU, Bengaluru.
The Conclave which was inaugurated by Justice Nagamohan Das, retired judge of the Karnataka High Court, had a keynote address by former Rajya Sabha member Dr. L. Hanumanthaiah. Other speakers at the inaugural session were Dr. Ashwini K. P., UN Special Rapporteur, Contemporary Forums of Caste and Racism; Senior Advocate Jayna Kothari, Executive Director, Centre for Law & Policy Research; Dr. Du Saraswathi, writer, theatre person and Dalit activist; Prof. Babu Mathew, Faculty & Co-Director, Centre for Labour Studies, NLSIU and Prof. Asang Wankhede, D.Phil (Law) candidate, University of Oxford. Organisations and activists working for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers and safai karamcharis from across India participated in the Conclave, along with various other state-level organisations.
The two-day Conclave culminated with the formation of a national-level coalition which would work to eliminate all forms of manual scavenging.
Context and Rationale
The PEMSR Act was a landmark legislation aimed at eradicating the inhuman and degrading practice of manual scavenging in India. However, more than a decade since its enactment, significant challenges persist in its full implementation. Reports indicate that manual scavenging continues in various parts of the country, often disguised under different forms of employment due to gaps in policy enforcement, lack of rehabilitation mechanisms, and deep-rooted social stigmas.
Given these persistent challenges, the formation of a national-level coalition is imperative. This coalition will act as a unified platform to streamline policy implementation, ensure accountability, facilitate knowledge-sharing, and enhance coordination between central and state governments, civil society organisations, and stakeholders working on the ground.
Objectives of the National-Level Coalition
Strengthen Policy Implementation: Identify gaps in enforcement, recommend reforms, and push for comprehensive compliance across states.
Enhance Accountability Mechanisms: Establish mechanisms for regular monitoring and transparent reporting on the implementation status of the Act.
Foster State and Central Coordination: Ensure uniformity in interpretation and execution of the law while addressing region-specific challenges.
Empower Affected Communities: Advocate for holistic rehabilitation, skill development, and livelihood programmes to support manual scavengers and their families.
Mobilise Resources: Facilitate financial support, technological interventions, and infrastructure development to eliminate manual scavenging.
Advocate for Stronger Legal Action: Push for strict legal action against violators and timely redressal mechanisms for affected individuals.
Engage Civil Society and Experts: Leverage the expertise of NGOs, activists, legal professionals, and academics to drive systemic change.
Strategic Plan for the Way Forward
1. Institutionalisation of the Coalition
Formation of a national steering committee with representatives from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, state governments, civil society organisations, and legal experts.
Establishment of state-level task forces to coordinate with the national coalition and facilitate local implementation.
Regular national and regional review meetings to assess progress and challenges.
2. Strengthening Legislative and Policy Frameworks
Urgent review of existing policies to identify implementation gaps and propose necessary amendments.
Development of a national action plan with a clear roadmap, timelines, and accountability structures.
Ensuring stringent penalties and legal action against violations of the MS Act 2013.
3. Enhancing Rehabilitation and Livelihood Opportunities
Creation of skill development programmes in collaboration with industry partners to provide alternative employment.
Expanding financial assistance and support schemes, ensuring direct benefit transfers for affected individuals.
Ensuring proper housing, healthcare, and education support for former manual scavengers and their families.
4. Deploying Technology to Eliminate Manual Scavenging
Promotion and scaling of mechanised cleaning solutions across urban and rural areas.
Government subsidies and incentives for local bodies to procure and utilise mechanised cleaning equipment.
Establishing monitoring dashboards for real-time tracking of implementation and grievance redressal.
5. Advocacy and Social Awareness
National and state-level campaigns to challenge the stigma around manual scavenging and its affected communities.
Media partnerships to highlight success stories and expose violations of the law.
Engagement of religious, cultural, and community leaders to shift societal perceptions and ensure dignity for rehabilitated individuals.
6. Ensuring Data Transparency and Accountability
Development of a national database to track affected individuals, their rehabilitation status, and ongoing legal actions.
Annual status reports to be presented before the Parliament and state Assemblies.
Strengthening of independent monitoring bodies with active civil society representation.
Conclusion
The formation of a national-level coalition is not just a strategic necessity but a moral imperative to uphold the dignity and rights of those affected by manual scavenging. By ensuring a multi-stakeholder, rights-based approach, this coalition will serve as a powerful force in eliminating manual scavenging and ensuring the full realisation of the objectives outlined in the PEMSR Act 2013. The Conclave must now focus on operationalising this coalition with clear responsibilities, timelines, and measurable outcomes for each state and stakeholder.
Sheema Fatima, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, NMIMS, Mumbai and Urban Researcher
“It was a wonderful time conversing with such intellectual minds here. Thank you for the invitation. I think the theme is appropriate and very much a need at this crossroad when India is aspiring to be a developed nation. As I said in my talk that housing and land management are two pillars which will be a foundation for this. Because they always act as the other side of the urban development process. Because without housing, without land, you cannot witness sustainable development, especially in a diverse country like ours with a lot of aspirations and, lot of upcoming cities and towns of varied sizes. I think we are having this dialogue at the right moment.
The Editorial Board of the 
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