The IQAC and Research Committee successfully organized a Faculty Development Programme titled “Law, Rights, and Governance: Intersections of Policy, Justice, and Society” from 12 January 2026 to 14 January 2026. The programme brought together eminent academicians, legal practitioners, and researchers to deliberate on contemporary legal and socio-political challenges impacting rights, governance, and justice in India and globally.

The FDP commenced on 12 January 2026 with an inaugural session chaired by the Emcee, followed by introductory remarks and the Director’s address, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary engagement in legal education. The Vice Principal proposed the vote of thanks.

The first technical session featured Ms. Jayna Kothari, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India and Co-Founder, Centre for Law and Policy Research (CLPR), who delivered a lecture on “Marital Rape Exception: Constitutional Crisis and Gender Justice.” The session critically examined issues of consent, privacy, bodily autonomy, and constitutional morality, drawing from landmark Supreme Court jurisprudence.

Subsequent sessions on the same day addressed pressing issues of hate speech, media accountability, and algorithmic discrimination. Ms. Manavi Atri, Advocate and Researcher, Alternative Law Forum, discussed “Hate Speech, Electoral Politics, and the Law,” focusing on safeguarding democracy and minority rights. Dr. Sony Pellissery, Professor and Co-Director, Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion, NLSIU, Bengaluru, delivered an insightful lecture on “Digital Caste: Algorithmic Bias, Online Hate, and Legal Accountability,” highlighting structural inequalities reproduced through digital governance.

On 13 January 2026, the FDP featured an online session by Mr. Mithilesh Kumar Jha, Assistant Professor, IIT Guwahati, on “Language, Identity, and the Politics of Officialization,” examining the constitutional and democratic implications of linguistic majoritarianism. This was followed by a session by Dr. Saurabh Bhattacharjee, Associate Professor of Law and Dean (Academics), NLSIU, Bengaluru, on “Informal and Unorganized Sector: Rights and Vulnerabilities,” which provided a critical perspective on labour rights, social security, and legal protection for marginalized workers.

The programme concluded on 14 January 2026 with two sessions addressing international humanitarian law and child protection. Dr. Amrisha Tripathi, Assistant Professor, Manipal Law School, spoke on “Civilian Protection in Contemporary Armed Conflict,” exploring the limitations of international humanitarian law and the role of human rights law. The final online session by Dr. Jasmine Alex, Assistant Professor, Mahatma Gandhi University, focused on “Online Sexual Abuse of Children in India,” analysing challenges under the POCSO Act and emerging legal responses.

Overall, the FDP provided a rich academic platform for faculty members to engage with contemporary legal debates, strengthen research perspectives, and integrate interdisciplinary insights into teaching and scholarship.