Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University (DBRANLU), Sonepat, is organising a Commemorative Series on “50 Years of the Constitutional Dissent: Revisiting Justice H.R. Khanna’s Legacy.”
About the Event
The commemorative series marks the 50th anniversary of Justice H.R. Khanna’s dissent in ADM Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla, a landmark moment in Indian constitutional history. The initiative seeks to revisit the role of dissent in safeguarding fundamental rights, especially during periods such as the Emergency (1975–77).
The series is conceived as a year-long academic initiative, bringing together judges, academicians, practitioners, and students to deliberate on constitutional values, rule of law, and civil liberties.
About the Organiser
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonepat (DBRANLU), established under the Haryana Act, 2012, focuses on advancing legal education and interdisciplinary learning. The university continues to engage in academic initiatives that promote constitutional understanding and legal scholarship.
Objectives of the Series
- To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Justice Khanna’s dissent and its enduring constitutional significance.
- To critically examine the jurisprudence and role of dissent in constitutional adjudication.
- To facilitate scholarly engagement on constitutionalism and civil liberties.
- To promote institutional collaboration and interdisciplinary dialogue.
Theme
“50 Years of the Constitutional Dissent: Revisiting Justice H.R. Khanna’s Legacy”
The series is anchored in the idea that dissent is a vital constitutional instrument that preserves democratic values, safeguards individual liberties, and contributes to the evolution of law.
Broad Areas of Discussion
- Right to Dissent: 50 Years of Justice H.R. Khanna’s Legacy
- From Authoritarianism to Constitutionalism: Revisiting the 42nd and 44th Amendments
- Emergency Powers and the Constitution: Limits and Accountability
- Samvidhan Divas and the Emergency: Reaffirming Constitutional Values
- Preventive Detention in India: Law and Practice
- Right to Privacy vis-à-vis Surveillance Laws: Constitutional Challenges in the Digital Age
Sub-Themes
Constitutional Theory and Jurisprudence
- Jurisprudence of dissent in constitutional courts
- ADM Jabalpur: contemporary relevance
- Rights jurisprudence and expanding liberties
- Judicial independence and constitutional morality
State Power, Emergency, and Accountability
- Rule of law during emergencies
- Preventive detention and civil liberties
- Emergency powers and constitutional governance
- Law, politics, and the sociology of dissent
Contemporary and Emerging Challenges
- State surveillance and privacy
- Digital constitutionalism and technology
- Media, AI, and the future of liberty
Key Activities
- Keynote addresses by distinguished members of the judiciary.
- National Conference with keynote addresses by Hon’ble Judges, panel discussions, and technical sessions for paper presentations.
- Commemorative lecture series by members from academia, distinguished judges and professionals.
- Panel discussions with leading academics and experts.
- Workshops to build research capabilities among students.
- Paper presentation sessions for researchers and students.
- Essay writing competition for researchers and students.
- Valedictory Conference where key findings and scholarly contributions from the year-long programme will be presented.
Advisory Board
- Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajesh Bindal, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India
- Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, Former Chief Justice, Punjab & Haryana High Court; Honorary Distinguished Professor & General Council Member, DBRANLU, Sonepat
- Hon’ble Mr. Justice M.M. Kumar, Former Chief Justice, Jammu and Kashmir High Court; Governing Council Member, DBRANLU, Sonepat
- Prof. (Dr.) Devinder Singh, Vice-Chancellor, DBRANLU, Sonepat
Organising Secretary
Prof. (Dr.) Ashutosh Mishra, Registrar, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonepat.
Coordinators
- Prof. (Dr.) Varun Chhachhar, Professor, University of Lucknow
- Prof. (Dr.) Debasis Poddar, Professor, National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam
- Dr. Deepak Kumar Srivastava, Associate Professor, Head Centre for Constitutional Law and Federalism, Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur
- Mr. Siddhartha Fuller, Assistant Professor, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab
Faculty Coordinator
Aryan Khare, Assistant Professor, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonepat.
Downloads
Brochure: [Click here to view]
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Ph: +91-7905634045