NLUD–UNICEF National Essay Competition on Constitutional Law and Child Rights

The interactions of children with the criminal justice system stand at the crossroads of two powerful branches of law; constitutional law, which lays down the rights and principles that guide our justice system more generally, and criminal law, which defines victimhood and liability. This competition aims to encourage clear thinking and strong legal analysis on issues surrounding the interaction of these frameworks. It hopes to create a space where students can critically engage with the processes that shape justice for children in India.

NLUD Chair on Justice for Children in collaboration with UNICEF

The Chair works to build a strong body of scholarship on child rights within the criminal justice system, support high-quality legal representation for children in need of care and protection as well as those in conflict with the law, and mentor the next generation of child rights researchers and lawyers. Guided by Chair Professor Tasneem Deo, the initiative aims to bring together academic insight and practical engagement to ensure that every child's rights are protected with fairness, dignity, and compassion. For more information, please visit https://unicefchairnludelhi.com.

The Constitutional Law Club, NLU Delhi

The Constitutional Law Club was founded by students of NLU Delhi, with the support of our Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) G.S. Bajpai, and the guidance of Prof. (Dr.) Niraj Kumar. The club grew out of a shared wish to build a steady, thoughtful space for engaging with constitutional ideas beyond the classroom. Our work focuses on nurturing a regular culture of discussion around constitutional law. We host expert lectures, share reading lists that offer diverse perspectives, and run student-led forums that encourage open and informed conversation.

Timeline

Themes

1. The Role of Dignity under Article 21 in Shaping Juvenile Justice in India
2. The Interplay of Privacy and Protection under POCSO
3. Article 39A and Access to Justice for Children

Submission Guidelines

Format and Content:

1. Word Limit: 1500-2000 words excluding footnotes.
2. The title should be no longer than 12 words.
3. The content must be formatted as follows:
1. Font Style: Garamond
2. Line Spacing: 1.5
3. Font size: 12
4. All text should be justified.
4. The submission shall be original and unpublished work.
5. A similarity below 20% is permitted. Any use of generative AI will lead to disqualification.
6. The footnotes shall be as per OSCOLA 4th Edition. The content of the footnotes must be formatted as follows:
1. Font Style: Garamond
2. Line Spacing: 1.0
3. Font size: 10
7. Essays breaching guidelines may be summarily rejected.
8. There are no registration fees.

Eligibility

The competition is open to any student enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate law degree in any recognized university in India.

Co-authorship is not permitted.

Submission Process

● Participants may submit their essays via this form by the 1st March 2026. [Link for Submission: https://forms.gle/8fYukAtwH2WDHKHu9]

Awards And Recognition

● Winner: Certificate of Merit and publication in the NLUD J4C Newsletter

● Runner-Up: Certificate of Merit and publication on the NLUD J4C Online Opinion Page

● Top 10 Entries: Certificate of Merit

All participants will receive an E-Certificate of Participation.

Contact Us

Email ID: clc@nludelhi.ac.in

Phone: ‪+91 77078 83920 (Ms. Siya Maheshwari) & +91 70033 46161 (Ms. Palak Goenka)

Any updates on the competition will be shared on https://unicef-clc-essay-competition.vercel.app/