Hidayatullah National Law University Organises Conference On “Justice Delivery Mechanisms And Institutional Capacity”
Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur, through its Centre for Criminal Law and Jurisprudence and Centre for Law and Human Rights, organised a one-day conference on “Justice Delivery Mechanisms and Institutional Capacity” in collaboration with the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and the India Justice Report (IJR) on 8 December 2025. Envisioned as a platform for dialogue among stakeholders across Chhattisgarh, the conference centred on the four pillars of justice delivery—Police, Judiciary, Prisons, and Legal Aid—and the challenges and opportunities in advancing the constitutional mandate of Justice for All. More than 55 participants from diverse institutions contributed to the deliberations.
Inaugural Session
The Inaugural Session began with presenting the key insights of the CSJ Report by Ms. Nupur, Managing Trustee, CSJ, who discussed systemic challenges, particularly those impacting women and vulnerable groups. Mr. Valay Singh, Lead, India Justice Report (IJR), provided an overview of the 4th Edition of the India Justice Report, analysing state-wise justice delivery capacity through comparative indicators.
In his presidential remarks, Prof. (Dr.) V.C. Vivekanandan emphasised that law universities serve as catalysts for legal reform and capacity building. He noted the gap between constitutional expectations and institutional readiness and stressed the need to reinforce justice delivery mechanisms through training, legal aid, and robust clinical education.
In the segment “Voices from the Field”, advocates Divya Jaiswal, Gayatri, and Shobharam Gilhare shared their experiences on grassroots legal aid, highlighting the lived realities of marginalised communities.
The event also had the CSJ report titled “Assessing the Effectiveness of Justice Delivery Mechanisms in Ensuring Access to Justice – CSJ” which was released by Prof. (Dr.) V.C. Vivekanandan, Vice-Chancellor, HNLU, who presided over the event.
Dr. Deepak Kumar Srivastava, Registrar, HNLU, earlier welcomed the gathering and underscored the relevance of the theme. Dr. Kaumudhi Challa, Head, Centre for Criminal Law and Jurisprudence, outlined the objectives of the conference, highlighting the need for collaborative learning and pragmatic solutions to strengthen access to justice in Chhattisgarh. Dr. Kiran Kori, Head, Centre for Law and Human Rights, proposed the vote of thanks.
Panel Discussions
Panel I: “Building Justice Capacity in Chhattisgarh: Dialogue on Judiciary and Legal Aid”
Moderator: Prof. Vishnu Konoorayar, Dean (Research), HNLU
- Mr. Parth Tiwari, Deputy Secretary, CG State Legal Services Authority, highlighted the role of legal aid clinics and para-legal volunteers, especially in remote regions with low legal awareness.
- Ms. Nupur (CSJ) emphasised the need for area-specific schemes and full-time dedicated legal aid lawyers.
- Mr. Valay Singh (IJR) presented comparative findings on the capacities of judiciary, police, prisons, and legal aid systems.
- Ms. Medha Deo, Director, Fair Trial Programme, underscored the role of legal aid, social support structures, and law schools in criminal justice.
- Ms. Shruti Naik, Jaldi, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, discussed the importance of adequate human resources for a well-functioning justice system.
Panel II: “Policing for People”
Moderator: Dr. Archana Gharote, Assistant Professor, HNLU
- Dr. Vipul Mudgal, Director, Common Cause, presented the Status of Policing in India Report 2025, emphasising concerns relating to custodial torture and the urgent need for capacity-building under the new criminal laws.
- Dr. Deepak Kumar Srivastava, Registrar, HNLU, highlighted the University's initiatives in training police officials on the new legal framework.
- Dr. Parvesh Kumar Rajput, Assistant Professor, HNLU, shared the contributions of the HNLU Pro Bono Club and suggested measures to improve policing systems and the implementation of new criminal laws.
Panel III: “Justice Capacity in Chhattisgarh: Prisons”
Moderator: Mr. Abhinav Shukla, Assistant Professor, HNLU
- Mr. Sunil Gupta, Author Black Warrant and former Legal Advisor, Tihar Prisons, provided insights into practical challenges and reforms in prison administration.
- Ms. Sarab Lamba, Research Associate, IJR, presented findings on prison capacity, over-crowding, and mental health concerns of inmates.
- Dr. Upneet Lalli, Deputy Director, Institute of Correctional Administration, Chandigarh, emphasised reviewing legal aid delivery inside prisons and the importance of gender-sensitive policy frameworks.
A consolidated report of the day's proceedings was presented by Dr. Kaumudhi Challa. The conference concluded with closing remarks and a formal vote of thanks by Dr. Kiran Kori.Faculty members Mr. Jeevan Sagar, Dr. Eritriya Roy, Ms. Apurva Sharma, and Mr. Pintu Majhi anchored the sessions and contributed significantly to the success of the event.