National Article Writing Competition On Electoral Rights Of Persons With Disabilities | HPNLU–ADR
The Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla, was established by the State Government in 2016 through an Act of the Legislature (Act 16 of 2016). The University commenced its academic functioning on 5th October 2016.
Situated amidst the geographical terrains of the Himalayas, HPNLU, Shimla is regarded as one of the most suitable and enriching places for pursuing legal education in India. The University focuses on the holistic development of students, encompassing understanding of the legal system, the topographies of law-making, legal practice, and legal administration.
The institution has attracted an excellent faculty from across India and is committed to providing inter-disciplinary and practical/application-based legal education, keeping in view the overall development of its students.
Under the academic and administrative leadership of the Hon'ble Vice-Chancellor, the team at HPNLU is dedicated to achieving new heights in the field of legal education.
About CHRDS
The Centre for Human Rights and Disability Studies (CHRDS) at Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla, serves as a platform aimed at bringing together first-person voices, academicians, research-activists, government departments, non-governmental organisations, and other relevant stakeholders.
CHRDS is a research-cum-activism centre of its kind in the region. It emphasises addressing welfare and healthcare concerns of people with diversities, including issues related to healthcare, education, employment, social and cultural life, and access to justice.
Through research and deliberation, the Centre endeavours to create narratives focusing on healthcare, privacy, dignity, autonomy, right to self-determination, and the social, economic, political, and cultural rights of persons with disabilities.
The Centre also aims to bridge the gap between dialogue and practice, setting standards for the right to act under modern-day rights jurisprudence, particularly within disability-diversities studies and health justice discourse.
About ADR
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) is a pioneering non-partisan, non-profit organisation in India, established in 1999 by professors from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad.
ADR's mission is to improve governance and strengthen democracy through electoral and political reforms, with a focus on transparency, accountability, and decriminalisation of politics.
A landmark achievement of ADR was the Supreme Court judgment of 2002–03, which made it mandatory for election candidates to disclose their criminal, financial, and educational backgrounds, thereby empowering voters with critical information.
ADR's flagship initiatives include Election Watch and Political Party Watch, which analyse candidate affidavits and political party finances. Since the Supreme Court judgment of 2003, ADR, along with the National Election Watch, has conducted Election Watches for:
- Lok Sabha Elections (2004, 2009, 2014, 2019)
- Rajya Sabha Elections
- Almost all State Assembly Elections post-2003
ADR also advocates for inner-party democracy and frequently files Public Interest Litigations (PILs) to promote systemic electoral reforms, making it a key watchdog institution for Indian democracy.
About the Competition
In light of ADR's expertise in democratic reforms and CHRDS's focus on the intersection of human rights and disability, the Centre for Human Rights and Disability Studies announces a National Article Writing Competition on the theme:
“Electoral Rights of Persons with Disabilities”
Broad Themes
- Beyond the Ballot Box: Examining the Legal Barriers to Electoral Participation for Persons with Disabilities
- The Right to Vote as a Right to Equality: Reinterpreting Suffrage Through a Disability Rights Lens
- Digital Democracy or Digital Divide? The Legal Promise and Perils of Electronic Voting for the Disabled
- Guardianship vs. Citizenship: Legal Capacity and the Disenfranchisement of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
- From Tokenism to Transformation: Implementing Accessible Elections as a Constitutional Mandate
All submissions shall undergo a double-blind peer review process. The composition and functioning of the review panel shall be at the sole discretion of CHRDS, HPNLU.
Authors must not disclose their identity (name, institution, professional details, etc.) anywhere in the submission. Any violation will result in immediate disqualification. All decisions of the organising committee shall be final.
Formatting Guidelines
- Font: Times New Roman
- Font Size: 12 (Headings: 14)
- Line Spacing: 1.5
- Footnotes: Times New Roman, Size 10, Single Spacing
- Citation Style: Harvard Bluebook, 20th Edition
- No speaking footnotes allowed
- Word Limit (inclusive of footnotes): 2500–3000 words
- Paper Size: A4 with normal margins
Publication of Articles
- Top 3 Articles: Published on ADR's official website (with due credit)
- Next 7 Shortlisted Articles: Published on CHRDS, HPNLU website
Registration Structure
- Single-authored submission: ₹250
- Co-authored submission: ₹500
Prizes
- First Prize: ₹3000 + Publication + Certificate of Merit
- Second Prize: ₹2000 + Publication + Certificate of Merit
- Third Prize: ₹1000 + Publication + Certificate of Merit
- Remaining 7 Shortlisted Articles: Publication + Certificate of Merit
- All Participants: Certificate of Participation
Submission Guidelines
- Manuscript must be original and unpublished
- Must not be under consideration elsewhere
- Submission language: English
- File format: .docx only
- Submission only through the official link (email submissions not accepted)
- Similarity index must be below 20%
- Use of AI in any form is strictly prohibited
- Submitted manuscripts become the property of CHRDS, HPNLU
- Authors grant CHRDS an irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence
- Identity disclosure leads to immediate disqualification
Assessment Criteria
Criterion | Marks | Description |
Content Quality | 30 | Alignment with theme, factual accuracy, originality, critical thinking |
Writing Style and Creativity | 30 | Engagement, personal voice, creativity within academic tone |
Language Proficiency | 20 | Grammar accuracy, fluency, clarity |
Structure and Organisation | 10 | Logical flow, coherence |
Ethical Writing | 10 | Proper citations, no plagiarism |
Articles exceeding 20% plagiarism will be automatically rejected.
Competition Timeline
- Start of Registration: 31 December 2025
- Last Date of Registration: 15 February 2026
- Last Date of Submission: 15 February 2026
- Result Announcement: First week of March 2026
Registration Details
- Registration and submission to be completed only through official links
- Submission link active until 15 February 2026 (11:59 PM)
Submission Link
- https://erphpnlu.in/anon_evForm.htm?ev=63
- Google Form link provided in brochure
Contact Details
Email: chrds@hpnlu.ac.in
Instagram: @chrds_hpnlu
LinkedIn: CHRDS LinkedIn
Office Bearers
- Dr. Sachin Sharma – Director, CHRDS
- Ashpinder Kaur – Convener
+91 98762 13792 - Samia Mirza – Co-Convener
+91 63062 05121 - Rimjim Kheda – Treasurer
+91 96106 66673
Patron
Prof. (Dr.) Priti Saxena
Vice-Chancellor, HPNLU
For more details, click here for brochure