TFP Bureau, Raipur, December 11, 2025: Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur, in collaboration with the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and the India Justice Report (IJR), organised a one-day conference on “Justice Delivery Mechanisms and Institutional Capacity,” bringing together more than 55 participants from across Chhattisgarh. The event aimed to foster dialogue among key stakeholders on the four foundational pillars of justice delivery—Police, Judiciary, Prisons, and Legal Aid—and to review gaps, opportunities, and reforms needed to strengthen access to justice for all.
Inaugural Session Highlights Systemic Gaps and Reform Needs
The conference opened with an overview of key findings from the CSJ Report, presented by CSJ Managing Trustee Ms. Nupur, who underlined systemic barriers affecting women and marginalised groups. India Justice Report Lead Mr. Valay Singh followed with a presentation on the 4th Edition of the IJR, offering comparative assessments of state-level capacities in justice delivery.
Presiding over the session, HNLU Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) V.C. Vivekanandan emphasised the crucial role of law universities in legal reform, research, and capacity-building. Stressing the gap between constitutional expectations and ground realities, he called for stronger legal training, robust clinical education, and more agile institutions.
In a segment titled “Voices from the Field,” advocates Divya Jaiswal, Gayatri, and Shobharam Gilhare shared firsthand accounts of grassroots legal aid, drawing attention to the challenges faced by vulnerable communities. The Inaugural Session also saw the release of the CSJ report, “Assessing the Effectiveness of Justice Delivery Mechanisms in Ensuring Access to Justice – CSJ.”
Registrar Dr. Deepak Kumar Srivastava welcomed participants and highlighted the urgency of strengthening justice mechanisms in the state. Dr. Kaumudhi Challa, Head of the Centre for Criminal Law and Jurisprudence, outlined the objectives of the conference, while Dr. Kiran Kori, Head of the Centre for Law and Human Rights, proposed the vote of thanks.
Panel Discussions Examine Capacity Gaps Across Justice Pillars
Panel I: Judiciary and Legal Aid
Moderated by Prof. Vishnu Konoorayar, this session examined the capacity of judicial and legal aid institutions.
- Mr. Parth Tiwari, Deputy Secretary, CGSLSA, underscored the significance of legal aid clinics and para-legal volunteers in remote districts.
- Ms. Nupur emphasised area-specific interventions and the need for dedicated full-time legal aid lawyers.
- Mr. Valay Singh presented state comparisons across police, judiciary, prisons, and legal aid systems.
- Ms. Medha Deo, Director, Fair Trial Programme, stressed the role of legal aid and community support.
- Ms. Shruti Naik, Jaldi, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, highlighted the importance of adequate human resources.
Panel II: Policing for People
Moderated by Dr. Archana Gharote, this panel focused on policing reforms.
- Dr. Vipul Mudgal, Director, Common Cause, presented the Status of Policing in India Report 2025, raising concerns regarding custodial torture and the need for capacity-building under new criminal laws.
- Dr. Deepak Kumar Srivastava discussed HNLU’s initiatives in training police officials on the new legal framework.
- Dr. Parvesh Kumar Rajput outlined the contributions of the HNLU Pro Bono Club and suggested reforms for effective policing.
Panel III: Prisons and Institutional Capacity
Moderated by Assistant Professor Mr. Abhinav Shukla, the final panel centred on prison administration and reforms.
- Mr. Sunil Gupta, former Legal Advisor, Tihar Prisons, offered insights into operational challenges and the need for systematic reforms.
- Ms. Sarab Lamba, Research Associate, IJR, shared data on overcrowding, infrastructure gaps, and inmates’ mental health.
- Dr. Upneet Lalli, Deputy Director, Institute of Correctional Administration, stressed improving legal aid delivery inside prisons and adopting gender-sensitive policies.
Conclusion
A consolidated summary of the day’s discussions was presented by Dr. Kaumudhi Challa. The event concluded with remarks and a formal vote of thanks by Dr. Kiran Kori.
Faculty members Mr. Jeevan Sagar, Dr. Eritriya Roy, Ms. Apurva Sharma, and Mr. Pintu Majhi anchored the sessions, contributing to the successful conduct of the conference, which underscored the collective commitment to strengthening justice delivery and institutional capacity across Chhattisgarh.
