On August 6, 2025, the Faculty of Law, University of Lucknow hosted a special lecture by Dr. Bhanu Pratap, Assistant Professor at the Faculty, on the topic “Marbury v. Madison: An Anatomy of the Constitutional Struggle in the United States of America.” The event was a part of the faculty’s ongoing efforts to engage students and scholars in comparative constitutional studies and to encourage discourse on foundational legal principles across jurisdictions.
Dr. Bhanu Pratap is a distinguished academician and researcher in the field of International and Constitutional Law. He completed his LL.M. in 2012 from Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, and was awarded a Ph.D. in 2018 by the University of Lucknow. Over the years, he has authored several research papers and contributed to various national and international legal forums, establishing himself as a credible voice in the academic and legal community.
In his lecture, Dr. Pratap delved deep into the historic judgment of Marbury v. Madison (1803), which is often hailed as the cornerstone of the Doctrine of Judicial Review in the United States. The lecture traced the socio-political and constitutional developments that culminated in the case and elaborated on the legal reasoning employed by Chief Justice John Marshall in asserting the authority of the U.S. Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of legislative acts, a principle that has since become integral to constitutional governance not only in the United States but also in democratic jurisdictions around the world, including India.
One of the key highlights of the lecture was Dr. Pratap’s comparative insight into how Marbury v. Madison influenced constitutional interpretation globally. He encouraged the audience to reflect on the importance of an independent judiciary and the role of courts in safeguarding constitutional supremacy. Drawing parallels with Indian constitutional developments, he discussed how judicial review, though derived from a different constitutional framework, has found firm roots in the Indian legal system and has been instrumental in upholding the rule of law.
The lecture was well-received by faculty members, research scholars, and students alike, and was followed by an engaging interactive session. Dr. Pratap’s clarity of thought, command over the subject, and his ability to contextualize a historic American judgment within a broader constitutional narrative added immense value to the academic environment of the faculty.
Such lectures contribute significantly to enhancing the legal understanding of students and fostering an appreciation for the comparative dimensions of constitutional law. The Faculty of Law, University of Lucknow, looks forward to organizing more such intellectually enriching sessions in the future.
