Team TrickyScribe: Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) of OP Jindal Global University proudly announced the establishment of the KK Luthra & Nirmal Luthra Centre for Comparative Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Studies to mark the occasion of World Social Justice Day.
The Centre commemorates the 100th birth anniversary of advocate KK Luthra, a distinguished Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India.
Union Law Minister Advocates for Philanthropy in Achieving Social Justice
At the inaugural seminar, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal emphasized the critical role of philanthropy in attaining social and economic equality. He said, “This is an occasion to be a champion for social justice. If injustice continues, there will be no peace in society, and we need to fight this. India, through its leaders like Mahatma Phule and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, had champions of social justice. Experts have pointed out how there can be political equality, but it is difficult to achieve social and economic equality. This can only be achieved through philanthropy.”
A Philanthropic Initiative to Honor a Legal Legacy
The Centre’s establishment is secured through a fully endowed fund, ensuring the sustainability of its activities in perpetuity. This endowment was generously created by Siddharth Luthra, a renowned lawyer and jurist, along with his sisters, Geeta Luthra, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India, and Dr Meera Luthra, Senior Pediatric Surgeon. Their philanthropic endeavor aims to honor their parents’ legacy by creating a global hub for interdisciplinary research, dialogue, and advocacy in criminal law and justice.
Flagship Activities and Initiatives
• Academic Excellence Awards: Introduction of the annual KK Luthra & Nirmal Luthra Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals for outstanding academic performance at JGLS.
• International Conferences: Organization of conferences focusing on comparative criminal law to foster global dialogue and knowledge exchange.
• Policy and Law Reform Advocacy: Development of actionable recommendations aimed at influencing policy and legal reforms.
• Research and Fellowships: Establishment of the K.K. Luthra & Nirmal Luthra Chair in Criminal Law & Criminal Justice, along with postgraduate and doctoral research fellowships to support scholarly pursuits.
• Capacity-Building Workshops: Conducting workshops designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of legal professionals.
• Public Engagement and Awareness: Initiatives to increase public understanding of criminal justice issues through publications, digital repositories, and outreach programs.Leadership Perspectives on the Centre’s Impact
Professor (Dr.) C Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University and Dean of JGLS, expressed enthusiasm about the Centre’s potential impact. He remarked, “We are delighted that such a distinguished Centre of study is being established at JGU. It will promote high-quality research and knowledge creation in comparative criminal law and justice systems; foster academic and practitioner dialogue on contemporary challenges in criminal law; encourage law reform initiatives for fair and effective justice delivery; create a repository of knowledge on global best practices in criminal law and justice; build a cadre of young scholars and legal professionals through training programs; and facilitate policy engagement with governments, judicial bodies, and international organizations.”
Global Academic Endorsements
Professor (Dr) Nicola Padfield, Emeritus Professor of Criminal & Penal Justice at the University of Cambridge, said, “A new Centre dedicated to research and scholarship in the field of comparative criminal law and criminal justice is great news. I congratulate both Mr. Sidharth Luthra on his wonderful vision & generosity, and I congratulate the University on its good fortune and vision in developing the Centre. There is so much to learn in this area.”
Professor (Dr) Julian Roberts, Emeritus Professor of Criminology at the University of Oxford, observed, “The newly created Centre on Comparative Criminal Law & Criminal Justice Studies at OP Jindal Global University represents a timely and important step in the evolution of criminal justice scholarship. Located at one of India’s leading universities, it will become a very useful hub for comparative research which will benefit many jurisdictions.”
Seminar Reflects on Justice Systems
Following the launch, a seminar featured insights from legal luminaries, jurists, and senior judges on both Indian and global justice systems. R Venkataramani, Attorney General for India, emphasized the constitutional foundation of social justice, stating, “The idea of the Constitution itself is rooted in social justice. It encompasses the whole idea of reordering a society on all key parameters. Today, we need to go beyond the dead days of ideological conflict. Social justice cannot belong to any particular ideology. In law schools especially, the idea of social justice must be embedded in the teaching of all law subjects. Students of law are social justice architects especially to ensure the rule of law for all!”
Justice Sanjay Karol, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, highlighted the importance of comparative criminal law studies, noting, “A study of research and comparative criminal law are crucial for advancing social justice. By comparing different legal systems, scholars can identify practices and promote equality, fairness, and access to justice for marginalized and deprived communities.”
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