The Centre for Women and the Law (CWL), along with Aweksha, is organising a release event of ‘A Legal Handbook on Domestic Violence Laws: A Practical Guide,’ at the NLS campus on Saturday, April 5, 2025. The handbook will be released by Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. Sunil Dutt Yadav, High Court of Karnataka, Bengaluru.
Please note: Guest entry for the event will be restricted to Gate 3. If you are interested in attending the release, please RSVP here.
About the Handbook
This handbook draws from four decades of experience in supporting survivors of gender-based violence, particularly domestic violence. While legal reforms have criminalized domestic abuse and provided protective measures, many women still face challenges in accessing justice due to a lack of information and legal literacy.
Despite legal advancements, many women still struggle to navigate the justice system. This handbook bridges that gap by simplifying legal processes, explaining complaint procedures, and outlining key legal provisions. It offers step-by-step guidance on documentation, civil and criminal matrimonial laws, and essential safety measures. Designed as a practical tool, the handbook aims to transform legal awareness into action, empowering women with the knowledge needed to access justice effectively.
About Aweksha
Aweksha (Sanskrit for “Care”) is a Bengaluru-based women’s trust with a strong foundation in gender justice and years of grassroots-level experience. Committed to ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV), with a particular emphasis on Violence Against Women (VAW), Aweksha focuses on creating resilient feminist networks that serve as vital support systems for survivors of abuse. Our work is centred on building trauma-informed safe spaces that foster healing and recovery while addressing gender-based violence through crisis intervention, research, capacity-building, and advocacy. Aweksha recognises that VAW is a systemic issue and a significant public health concern. Our survivor-centric, process-driven, and holistic approach prioritizes the needs of survivors, ensuring they receive the necessary support to make empowered decisions. Through our efforts, we strive to strengthen collective resistance to violence and drive systemic change — bringing justice within reach for all.
Programme Schedule
11.00 AM: Welcome Address by Kajol, Aweksha 11.05 AM: Release of the Handbook by Honourable Justice S. Sunil Dutt Yadav, High Court of Karnataka, Bangalore 11.17 AM: Presentation of the Handbook 11.29 AM: Address by Honourable Justice 11.34 AM: Introduction: Why a Handbook on Domestic Violence? by Rahul Raman, Assistant Professor of Law, NLSIU 11.41 AM: Challenges in Preparing the Handbook by Shreya Sunny, Research Associate, C-HELP 11.56 AM: Ground Realities in Implementing the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 by Manoranjini Thomas Kundal, Advocate, High Court of Karnataka 12.06 AM: Taking Law Beyond Classrooms by Noor Ameena, Co-Director, CWL and Assistant Professor, NLSIU 12.16 AM: Survivor Testimonies 12.26 AM: Concluding Remarks by Donna Fernandes, President, Aweksha
Dr. Ashwini Tambe, Director of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Professor of WGSS and History, George Washington University, who is currently in Bengaluru as a Fulbright scholar will be the discussant of the book. Dr. Debangana Chatterjee, Assistant Professor, Social Sciences, NLSIU & Co-Director, CWL, will be the moderator of the discussion.
Registration is mandatory for visitors from outside the NLS community. You can register for the talk here.
Title and Abstract of the Discussion
‘Insights, Dilemmas and Hopes in Cultivating Knowledge on Feminist Politics in India’
This discussion is a meditation on some of the insights, dilemmas and hopes I have encountered when engaging in knowledge-making on feminist politics in India and beyond. It draws on my engagement – spanning fifteen years and four case studies – with questions of intersectionality, coloniality and neoliberalism in feminist activism, development practice and knowledge production. I reflect on the construction and continued use of the ‘third world woman’ trope, the impact of professionalization of feminism on knowledge-making, the exclusion and erasures in such knowledge-making, and the challenges in decentring northern hegemony in women’s and gender studies and in decolonizing feminist classrooms. My motivation behind these reflections is to disrupt the idea of sanitised linear accounts of feminist knowledge production. The discussion is drawn from my new book, ‘Feminist Politics, Intersectionality and Knowledge Cultivation’.
Dr. Arun K. Thiruvengadam, Professor of Law at NLSIU is one of three editors who worked together to curate the works of Professor Upendra Baxi across four volumes of a series titled ‘Law, Justice, Society: Selected Works of Upendra Baxi.’ This set, published by Oxford University Press, was released at an event organised at the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi on March 04, 2025. Hon’ble Mrs Justice B. V. Nagarathna, Supreme Court of India presided over the event and delivered the keynote address, where she paid tribute to Professor Baxi’s manifold contributions to the Indian legal system. The event featured presentations on each of the four volumes by the editors, and a short response by Professor Baxi.
Prof. (Dr.) Arun K. Thiruvengadam said: “It was an honour to be invited to curate the works of Professor Baxi on the broad theme of constitutionalism. Professor Baxi is one of the leading scholars of Indian constitutional law and has also contributed important works to the related field of comparative constitutional law. Every student of public law will encounter one or more of Professor Baxi’s varied contributions while making her way through the corpus of scholarly work in this field. Teachers of constitutional law will have particular favourites that they assign as part of their syllabus because of Professor Baxi’s inimitable writing style, and his ability to both zero in on critical issues and provide an unusual perspective to the issues he chooses to focus upon.”
“This project enabled me to read (and re-read) Professor Baxi’s large body of work that he has produced across nearly seven decades. The volume contains 15 works written between 1969 and 2014, which showcase a small part of that vast oeuvre. In my introduction to Volume 2, I have tried to situate these fifteen works within the fields of Indian constitutional law and comparative constitutional law, while identifying some distinguishing features of each work. The 15 works include some classic and much cited works of Baxi, as well as some little known works that deserve recognition because of their prescient observations. They also include extracts from two book-length works that are regarded as classic analyses of the working of the Indian Supreme Court through the tumultuous 1970s and 1980s. The long interview extending to 50 pages allowed me to explore the background context of these works, and Professor Baxi provides some fascinating anecdotes and details about these pieces.”
“Following Professor Baxi’s example, this is not a work of hagiography. The 15 works include pieces that were — and will continue to be — controversial. Professor Baxi responds to these controversies in some parts of the interview and asks readers to judge these works for themselves. It is commendable that Professor Baxi never sought to moderate or influence the choices made by the individual editors on the works that have ultimately been included. I believe that the volume will offer much, both to the diligent follower of Professor Baxi on constitutionalism, and to the reader who is encountering the irrepressible Baxi for the first time on the page.”
About the four-volume set
Widely regarded as one of the most eminent legal thinkers of India, Professor Baxi is a leading scholar on matters relating to human rights, legal and social theory, and comparative constitutional law and theory.
The set is divided across four themes: ‘Human Rights’ (Vol. 1), ‘Constitutionalism’ (Vol. 2), ‘Law and Society’ (Vol. 3) and ‘Legal Education’ (Vol. 4). Professor Thiruvengadam served as the editor of the second volume on ‘Constitutionalism.’ Structurally, the essays in each volume are introduced by the volume editor, an expert in the field, who provides an assessment of Baxi’s works over the years. Each volume contains an interview between the editor and Professor Baxi, contextualising the latter’s research and discussing the themes covered. The respective volumes essentially conserve and reflect on pedagogical and research contributions made by Baxi to the concepts of law, justice, and society. (Source: Oxford University Press)
The other editors of the book are Amita Dhanda, Professor Emerita, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad (who edited both volumes 1 and 4), and Kalpana Kannabiran, Distinguished Professor, Council for Social Development, New Delhi.
Professor Baxi said, “I deeply appreciate the immense dedication of the editors who have devoted nearly a generation to these four volumes. Their careful selection of articles, themes and discussions aim to make my writings more relevant to the present and future generations. I wished them luck then and I wish them luck now in their noble endeavour. I hope these volumes encourage meaningful engagement with the ever-evolving discourse on law, justice, and society.”
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) invites applications for admission to the fifth edition of the Foundations for Legal Education (FLE) Certificate Course for 2024.
Moving from high school to law school is challenging for students – and NLSIU’s Foundations for a Legal Education can set you on the path to acquire the skills and intellectual abilities you need to make this journey easy and effective. In a dynamic four-week curriculum, the FLE Course will introduce you to:
Read critically and analyse complex materials;
Understand and analyse quantitative information in context;
Write persuasively;
Argue effectively; and
Think like a lawyer!
We have curated a new faculty lineup for delivery of the FLE course. Additionally, we have meticulously re-designed the curriculum based on feedback from earlier iterations. The study of law demands specialised skill sets that young individuals may not have exposure to, and the FLE aims to bridge this gap. This course is open to high-school students, graduates and professionals keen to improve their comprehension, articulation, and reasoning abilities.
Applications for the FLE Course are now open! To know more and apply, visit our FLE Course page on the PACE website. The course will begin on May 6, 2025 and end on May 30, 2025.
The deadline for application submission is May 4, 2025, by 11:59 pm (IST).
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) invites applications for the position (1 vacancy) of Manager – Admissions. This is a full time position, based out of the NLSIU campus in Bengaluru.
About NLSIU
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) was established in 1987 to be a pioneer in legal education. Over the last three decades the University has consistently been an innovative leader in legal education and research in India and has been ranked First among Law Universities in the National Institute Ranking Framework for the last seven years.
The University invites online applications from accomplished professionals for the position of Manager – Admissions. This is a full-time position, based out of the NLSIU campus in Bengaluru involving field and desk work, and will report to the Director – Communications and External Relations, NLSIU.
Role Description
A. Qualifications
Essential
Graduate degree in any discipline with aggregate 55% marks. Provided, for candidates with benchmark disabilities, the minimum aggregate mark is 50%.
Desirable
Post Graduate Degree/Diploma in any discipline.
B. Experience and Skills
Minimum 5 years of overall work experience with at least 3 years in a similar role;
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
Excellent time-management, problem-solving, stakeholder management skills with attention to detail;
Ability and desire to work independently in a fast-paced environment and complete multiple tasks and a large volume of work in a timely and effective manner;
The ability to work well with others, both internally and externally, from a wide variety of backgrounds;
Skilled in MS Office;
Ability to learn new software programmes quickly and effectively; Prior experience of handling database management tools is desirable;
Ability to work effectively and constructively as part of a team
C. Role and Responsibilities
The Manager – Admissions will report to the Director Communications and External Relations and work closely with the Academic Administration and the Professional and Continuing Education (PACE), department.
The Manager – Admissions will be responsible for:
Managing end-to-end admissions at NLSIU including creating and managing the marketing and outreach calendar of various offline and online programmes;
Creating communication plans, digital marketing plans and campaigns to ensure that the specified number of admissions are reached across each of the programmes;
Management and coordination of the design and delivery of admission collaterals, AV content, digital media content with external marketing agency/ies or /individuals involved in supporting the admissions campaign eg: graphic designer, video editor, internal teams etc.;
Evaluating and processing admissions applications in accordance with University policies, goals and rules on admissibility of undergraduate and graduate students;
Managing the admissions processing of a portfolio of programmes in close liaison with academic departments, applying agreed criteria to make admissions decisions consistently and fairly;
Overseeing and administering all aspects of planning of all admissions related student events including orientations/open days and social events;
Advising applicants regarding admissions requirements, eligibility for admission, programme options, residency requirements and other matters related to their admission to the University;
Serving as a resource to students, parents, the University community, High Schools, and other feeder institutions regarding admission to the University. Interpret admissions policies and procedures and respond to general questions about the University’s campus life, academic programmes, financial aid and requirements;
Utilising data analytics to track admissions metrics, identifying trends, and making data-driven decisions to enhance efforts;
Making referrals to other University offices as appropriate;
Processing incoming applications for all degree programmes, checking qualifications, the validity of decisions and authenticity of results;
Working closely with academic staff across the University and liaising with schools, colleges and directly with applicants;
Staying up-to-date on academic programme requirements, enrolment restrictions and other issues related to recruiting and admitting students;
Engaging in extensive in-state and out-of-state travel to interview and recruit prospective students;
Assisting in developing informational and/or promotional materials;
Conducting informational meetings and programmes to explain admission requirements policies and procedures;
Liaising regularly with Director Campus and Residential Life and Finance Team on admission processes;
Assisting in maintaining and updating admission records and files and compiling timely admissions reports;
Participating in summer orientation and registration programmes for newly admitted students;
Evaluating courses offered by other schools to determine their equivalency to courses offered at the University.
D. Tenure
Permanent basis till the age of superannuation i.e. 60 years, subject to confirmation after the satisfactory completion of two year’s probation.
Selection Process
Selection will take place in two parts.
Part 1 shall consist of review of applications by the University. Upon review of applications, candidates will be shortlisted in a 1:5 ratio as against the number of vacancies for the Interview round (Part 2).
Part 2 will be an interview round wherein the Interview Selection Panel shall score candidates out of a total of 50 marks for selection to the post.
NLSIU reserves the right to have more than one round of interview either in person or over video conferencing and to conduct independent background checks on the candidates.
NLSIU reserves the right to request for references from people who are not listed in the application form but would be familiar with the candidate’s previous work.
Learn more about the role and application process here.
Deadline
Interested individuals are requested to go through the role description, fill in the Application Form and upload the certificates to support their claim for educational qualifications, age, experience etc., on or before April 8, 2025 (5 pm).
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) invites applications for the position (1 vacancy) of Manager – Professional and Continuing Education (PACE). This is a full time position, based out of the NLSIU campus in Bengaluru.
About the Professional and Continuing Education (PACE)
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) was established in 1987 to be a pioneer in legal education. Over the last three decades the University has consistently been an innovative leader in legal education and research in India and has been ranked First among Law Universities in the National Institute Ranking Framework for the last seven years.
The University is committed to building on its legacy to become a leading Asian and Global law school in the next decade. In recognition of its mission to promote excellence in legal education, and to broaden access to the highest standards of learning in the law for all, NLSIU’s Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) Team provides a post-graduate master’s degree, and several post-graduate diplomas for students from all backgrounds. The PACE team designs and delivers training programmes for several leading organizations and government agencies. These programmes blend a deep understanding of the theoretical aspects of the law, practical know-how, and applications and examples from the field.
The University, accordingly, invites online applications from dynamic and accomplished professionals who have experience in online and offline learning and training programmes for professionals at all levels of experience, for the position of Manager – Professional and Continuing Education (PACE). This is a full time position, based out of the NLSIU campus in Bengaluru involving field and desk work and will report to the Director – Professional and Continuing Education (PACE), NLSIU.
Role Description
A. Qualifications
Essential
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with minimum 55% aggregate marks.
Desirable
Master’s degree/Post-graduate diploma in any discipline with minimum 55% aggregate marks;
B. Experience and Skills
Essential
5-8 years of experience in complex operation process roles which may include experience in academic administration or academic operations roles;
Excellent analytical skills, collation skills;
Excellent communication skills (written and oral), technical skills and time-management skills;
Self-driven and collaborative;
Must have the ability to work independently and provide attention to detail, and be data-driven;
Must be able to manage a process end to end;
Excellent proficiency in ERP, MS Office, Gmail, Google Documents and Google Sheets;
Excellent ability to multitask and work well under pressure; Must take full ownership of assigned projects and work independently;
Excellent ability to work effectively and constructively as part of a team.
Desirable
Prior experience in managing end-to-end distance education programmes.
C. Key Duties and Responsibilities
The Manager-PACE will report to the Director – PACE and will be responsible for the following:
Anchoring and supporting the academic (degree/diploma/certificate) and training programmes run by PACE – from admission to programme closure- weekdays and weekends;
Anchoring communication with external stakeholders, public and private partners;
Managing learning and delivery design of classes; Managing academic content and discussion fora on the Learning Management System;
Working closely with the programme faculty to streamline learning goals;
Facilitating digitisation of study materials;
Facilitating effective communication and feedback loops among various stakeholders;
Managing class schedules and related correspondence with faculty;
Ensuring adherence to processes, timelines and SOPs;
Creating proposals for new programmes;
Managing student queries with speed and accuracy;
Collaborating with peers to ensure a high-quality experience for all stakeholders;
Any other task assigned by the supervisors.
D. Tenure
Permanent basis till the age of superannuation i.e. 60 years, subject to confirmation after the satisfactory completion of two year’s probation.
Selection Process
Selection will take place in two parts:
Part 1 shall consist of review of applications by the University. Upon review of applications, candidates will be shortlisted in a 1:5 ratio as against the number of vacancies for the Interview round (Part 2).
Part 2 will be an interview round wherein the Interview Selection Panel shall score candidates out of a total of 50 marks for selection to the post.
NLSIU reserves the right to have more than one round of interview either in person or over video conferencing and to conduct independent background checks on the candidates.
NLSIU reserves the right to request for references from people who are not listed in the application form but would be familiar with the candidate’s previous work.
Learn more about the role and application process here.
Deadline
Interested individuals are requested to go through the role description, fill in the Application Form and upload the certificates to support their claim for educational qualifications, age, experience etc., on or before April 8, 2025 (5 pm).
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.
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“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.
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“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 Centre for Women and the Law (CWL), along with Aweksha, is organising a release event of ‘A Legal Handbook on Domestic Violence Laws: A Practical Guide,’ at the NLS campus on Saturday, April 5, 2025. The handbook will be released by Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. Sunil Dutt Yadav, High Court of Karnataka, Bengaluru.
Aweksha (Sanskrit for “Care”) is a Bengaluru-based women’s trust with a strong foundation in gender justice and years of grassroots-level experience. Committed to ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV), with a particular emphasis on Violence Against Women (VAW), Aweksha focuses on creating resilient feminist networks that serve as vital support systems for survivors of abuse. Our work is centred on building trauma-informed safe spaces that foster healing and recovery while addressing gender-based violence through crisis intervention, research, capacity-building, and advocacy. Aweksha recognises that VAW is a systemic issue and a significant public health concern. Our survivor-centric, process-driven, and holistic approach prioritizes the needs of survivors, ensuring they receive the necessary support to make empowered decisions. Through our efforts, we strive to strengthen collective resistance to violence and drive systemic change — bringing justice within reach for all.
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.
