{"id":364918,"date":"2025-10-28T10:30:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T05:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=364918"},"modified":"2025-10-28T10:56:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T05:26:14","slug":"iit-kharagpur-7th-research-colloquium-empirical-legal-scholarship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/10\/28\/iit-kharagpur-7th-research-colloquium-empirical-legal-scholarship\/","title":{"rendered":"IIT Kharagpur Hosts 7th Research Colloquium on the Future of Empirical Legal Scholarship Kharagpur, October 26, 2025:"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Inaugural Session<\/h3>\n

The Colloquium was inaugurated by Prof. V. K. Ahuja<\/span>, Director, Indian Law Institute (New Delhi)<\/span>, as Chief Guest<\/span>, and Dr. Banusri Velpandian<\/span>, Senior Specialist (Law, Research and Networking), NITI Aayog<\/span>, as Guest of Honour<\/span>, under the patronage of Prof. Rintu Banerjee<\/span>, Deputy Director, IIT Kharagpur<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Prof. Dipa Dube<\/span>, Dean, RGSOIPL<\/span>, in her address, emphasised that the next generation of legal researchers must learn to think in data but reason in justice.<\/span> Prof. Ahuja underscored the necessity of evidence-based policy formation, while Dr. Velpandian encouraged researchers to bridge the gap between legal analysis and policy impact. Prof. Niharika Sahoo Bhattacharya<\/span> proposed the vote of thanks.<\/p>\n

Plenaries and Workshops<\/h3>\n

The first plenary on “Big Data and Legal Research”<\/span> featured Dr. Tanushyam Chattopadhyay<\/span> (Sirius Digitech, Kolkata) and Ms. Mayuri Gupta<\/span> (Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, New Delhi), moderated by Prof. Uday Shankar<\/span>, RGSOIPL. The speakers discussed the role of AI in structuring judicial data, predicting case trends, and enhancing procedural efficiency.<\/p>\n

A workshop on Statistical Analysis in Legal Research<\/span>, led by Prof. Neha Jaiswal<\/span> (NIT Jamshedpur) and moderated by Prof. Shakti Deb<\/span>, trained participants in empirical design, hypothesis testing, and inferential logic.<\/p>\n

The second plenary, “Integration of Technology and Other Sciences in Legal Research,”<\/span> moderated by Prof. M. Padmavati<\/span>, featured Prof. Manas K. Mandal<\/span> (Psychology, IIT Kharagpur; former DG-Life Sciences, DRDO), Prof. M. Sakthivel<\/span> (TNNLU), Prof. Achin Chakraborty<\/span> (Institute of Development Studies Kolkata), and Prof. M. D. Behera<\/span>(CORAL, IIT Kharagpur). They highlighted interdisciplinary synergies between behavioural science, economics, and environmental research within legal contexts.<\/p>\n

Prof. Rudra Prakash Pradhan<\/span> (VGSoM, IIT Kharagpur) conducted a session on Correlation and Causation in Legal Research<\/span>, while the World Café<\/span> and Blind Spot Diagnostic Exercises<\/span> encouraged participants to identify biases in empirical interpretation.<\/p>\n

The Research Methodology Design Exercise<\/span> provided participants with practical experience in formulating research questions, identifying variables, and aligning methods with theory.<\/p>\n

Plenary Session III<\/span>, “Qualitative Study of Judicial Patterns,”<\/span> brought together Prof. Shruti Bedi<\/span> (Director, UILS, Panjab University) and Prof. Sitharamam Kakarala<\/span> (NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad), moderated by Prof. S. Subramanian<\/span>, RGSOIPL. The discussion underlined the importance of integrating interpretive depth with measurable indicators to ensure that judicial narratives remain both empirical and ethical.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlight Events<\/h3>\n

Among the most engaging components of the Colloquium were the World Café<\/span> and Blind Spot Diagnostic Exercises<\/span>, which fostered collaborative discussions on unconscious bias in empirical interpretation and academic reasoning. Participants were encouraged to critique their own methodological assumptions and identify hidden variables that often shape legal inference.<\/p>\n

The Research Methodology Design Exercise<\/span> emerged as another intellectual high point, providing hands-on experience in designing research problems, constructing hypotheses, and operationalising variables. The exercise helped early-career scholars align theory with methodology and translate conceptual insight into structured empirical frameworks.<\/p>\n

Together, these interactive formats transformed the Colloquium into a laboratory of ideas — blending pedagogy, collaboration, and critical introspection.<\/p>\n

Academic Paper and Poster Presentations<\/h3>\n

About 50 papers<\/span> were presented across six parallel sessions and one online panel, covering domains from artificial intelligence and environmental law to constitutional rights, privacy, and social justice.<\/p>\n