Dr. Veerappa Moily's 'Bharatiya Nyaya Shastra' Launched At Jindal Global Law School
Law School Correspondent
19 April 2026 1:46 PM IST
O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), Sonipat, on April 18, 2026, launched Bharatiya Nyaya Shastra: Reflections on Indian Jurisprudence & Perspective for Posterity, authored by former Union Minister for Law and Justice, Dr. M. Veerappa Moily.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Veerappa Moily described ancient India's judicial system as secular and liberated, stating that it offered a model that could be emulated globally. He highlighted that ancient Indian jurisprudence evolved by distancing itself from religious regimentation and fundamentalism, and referred to democratic practices in Buddhist Bhikshu Sanghas, which followed procedures akin to modern parliamentary systems.
Dr. Moily further noted that he was encouraged by Justice S.A. Bode, former Chief Justice of India, to write on ancient Indian jurisprudence. Referring to the Brihaspati Smriti, he spoke about the existence of a hierarchy of courts in ancient India, including the role of a chief justice (Praadvivaka), and emphasised that the doctrine of the rule of law was practised, with no individual, including the king, being above the law.
Welcoming Dr. Moily, Prof. (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor of JGU, highlighted his contributions to legal and institutional development, including his role in establishing the National Law School, Bengaluru, and in advancing corporate social responsibility provisions in company law.
Justice Madan Lokur, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, in his special address, noted that the book reflects extensive research on ancient Indian legal principles. He referred to the doctrine of expiation in ancient texts and emphasised the need to revisit contemporary legal procedures to improve access to justice.
Prof. (Dr.) Dipika Jain, Executive Dean and Professor at Jindal Global Law School, stated that the launch marked a celebration of India's intellectual traditions and legal philosophy.
The launch was followed by a panel discussion featuring Prof. (Dr.) Samiparna Samanta, Prof. (Dr.) Arup K. Chatterjee, Prof. (Dr.) Amit Bindal, and Prof. (Dr.) Shailza Sharma, and was moderated by Prof. (Dr.) S. Sreejith.
Dr. Vinay Ahuja, Publisher and Co-Founder of Mohan Law House India & UK, introduced the book, and the vote of thanks was delivered by Prof. Dabiru Sridhar Patnaik, Registrar, JGU.