Centre for Clinical Legal Education (CCLE)
MNLU Mumbai Centre for Clinical Legal Education was established on the basis of a recommendation from the Academic Council, in its meeting dated 23 April, 2016 and upon the approval of the same by the Executive Council resolution dated 12 August 2016. The CCLE is an imperative and integral component, inherent in modern legal education curriculum. The CCLE focuses on field-based learning exposure as well as campaigning for social justice. The CCLE also plays a role in supplying factual information for fine tuning policy and law in action.
- Panel Discussion on Repeal of Laws: A panel discussion was organized by the University on 17th February 2018 in collaboration with Centre for Civil Society, Delhi. Mr. N J Jamadar, Principal Secretary, Law and Judiciary Department, Govt. of Maharashtra chaired the discussion. Hon’ble Vice Chancellor and other faculty members took part in the panel discussion as speakers. This followed from the Repeal of Law – Maharashtra Compendium prepared by our students.
- Para Legal Volunteers (PLV) Training Programme: The University organised a three day Para Legal Volunteers (PLV) Training Programme from 30 October to 1 November 2017 conducted by Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) and District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Mumbai.
The topics undertaken during the course of the training programme are basic listening & communication skills, family laws, property law, criminal laws, labour laws, Maternity Benefits Act 1961, PCPNDT and gender centric laws. The lecture series were conducted by distinguished luminaries of the field of law, medicine like Adv. Najmusaher Azadi, Dr. Kavita Lalchandani, Adv. Vasant Bhange, Mrs. Shirin Sanju Lokhande, Dr. Rajashree Katke and Adv. Aileen Marques. In order to have practical experience the students were taken on field visit as a part of the PLV Program to Prison, Police Station and District Legal Services Authority.
- Survey at Popharan and Akkarpati District Palghar on 06th March 2018
Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai was entrusted with the work of monitoring the implementation of directions of Hon’ble Bombay High Court, Judicature at Mumbai. Under the guidance of Hon’ble Vice Chancellor and Registrar a questionnaire was prepared and visit was scheduled to affected villages. Questionnaire contained questions pertaining to socio-economic status of the villagers, compensation, basic civic amenities and other issues pertaining to housing etc. The maps of both the villages showed 1250 (approx) plots of land. These 1250 (approx) plots were divided in 50 (Approx) clusters. Accordingly 50 groups (two students/staff in each group) were identified.
On 6th March 2018 visit was conducted with 124 (Approx) members of the University. All the plots (occupied or unoccupied) were surveyed. Besides this surveyors made observations about the availability and sufficiency of civic amenities in the villages. Observations made by the surveyors were on the factors which are requisite for total rehabilitation. Accordingly observations were made by surveyors to see whether principle of total rehabilitation was honoured in letter and spirit. .
Centre for Research in Criminal Justice (CRCJ)
The University in its endeavour to promote and advance national and comparative research in the area of criminal justice has set up the Centre for Research in Criminal Justice (CRCJ) on 13th January 2018. The CRCJ has been inaugurated by Hon’ble Justice Naresh Patil (Judge, Bombay High Court) and Hon’ble Justice A.S. Oka (Judge, Bombay High Court) in the presence of Shri Ashutosh Kumbhakoni (Advocate General, State of Maharashtra), Dr. Milind Sathe, (Advocate and President, Bombay Bar Association) and other legal luminaries from Bar and academia. Prof. (Dr.) Bhavani Prasad Panda, Vice Chancellor of MNLU Mumbai is the maiden Director of CRCJ.
With the Centre dedicated to the study of criminal justice, the University will contribute to policy making by engaging with the institutionalised structures administering the criminal law. It will strive to be at the centre- stage of policy formulations to assist the functionaries of the CJS in identifying the national priorities to deal with domestic and transnational issues.
- 1st Roundtable on ‘Challenges to Criminal Justice Administration in the State of Maharashtra’ on 13th January 2018: A Roundtable was organized involving different stakeholders in the criminal justice system. The roundtable was presided by Hon’ble Justice A.S. Oka. The various issues were identified wherein research in criminal justice is required. It was resolved that further roundtable will be conducted involving prison and police officials, respectively.
- One Day Workshop on Transnational Crimes with Special Focus on Human Trafficking: The CRCJ commemorated the University Day on 20th March 2018 by organising a One day workshop on ‘Transnational Crimes with Special Focus on Human Trafficking’. The inauguration function was presided by Dr. Bhagwantrao More (IPS Retd.), Acting Chairperson Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission. Other dignitaries who graced the inauguration were Mr. M.A. Sayeed, Member, Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission; Prashant Burde (IPS) Joint Commissioner of Police, Navi Mumbai; Mr. Sukhwinder Singh (IPS) Inspector General of Police, Force -1, Maharashtra, Dr. PM Nair (IPS Retd.), Former DG, NDRF & CD, Government of India.
The workshop was divided into five technical sessions. More than 100 participants registered for the workshop from all over India. Dr. Srinivas Burra, Dr. PM Nair, Dr. Aman Hingorani, Michael Yangad and Dr. Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan were the key resource persons for the technical session.
Miscellaneous activities
- South Asia-Pacific Rounds of The NILS Business & Human Rights Moot Court Competition (6th -7th January 2018): The Network for International Law Students (NILS) Business Human Rights Moot Court Competition (South Asia Pacific Qualifying Rounds) was held at Maharashtra National law University (MNLU) Mumbai on 7th January, 2018. The event witnessed the participation of teams from all across South Asia, representing the top law schools of their respective countries.
- 18 Hours Training Program on Mediation and Negotiation (28th to 30th January 2018): This programme was conducted in collaboration with Peace Keeping and Conflict Resolution Team (PACT). The Course was conducted by international experts in the field viz., Catherine Davidson, Jonathan Rodrigues, Nisshant Laroia and Chirag Balyan. The Training Program provided a great opportunity to the young professionals, students and lawyers to hone their skills in the concept of Consensual Dispute Resolution (CDR). The program bestowed the participants with the core mediation & negotiation skills through a variety of simulations. Students and professionals pan India participated in the programme.
- Conference on “Regulatory Challenges to Business in India” – March 31, 2018: The University organised a national conference on “Regulatory Challenges to Business in India” on March 31, 2018. The central theme of the Conference revolved around contemporary corporate, commercial and regulatory issues affecting business in India. The current core corporate and commercial law aspects including latest amendments in corporate laws viz. Companies Amendment Bill, 2017, Insolvency Amendment Bill, 2017, Intellectual property regulations in companies and trade, ADR in corporate set up, banking and financial regulations, competition law and other major corporate law issues, are scheduled to be discussed. We received an active participation from all strata including students, researchers, academicians, judges and corporate law practitioners. Hon’ble Justice Shri R.D. Dhanuka (Bombay High Court) was the chief guest of the occassion. Further, Mr. Bharat Budholia (Partner, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Mumbai), Mr. Abhianyu Bhattacharya (Partner, Khaitan & Co.), Ms. Meera Sanyal (Former CEO & Chairman, Royal Bank of Scotland for India) and Ms. Mahua Roy Chowdhary (Founder Partner, Royzz & Co.) were the resource persons for the conference.
- Round table Discussion on Establishment of the Centre of Excellence in Maritime Law and Allied Matters urganised by Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai in association with Directorate General of Shipping- 7th May, 2018.
- State Level Round table Discussion on “Implementation of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994” organised by The Regional and State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO-SOTTO) Western Region and Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai.