NyayaSpandana: Empowering Legal Literacy, an edited book focusing on legal awareness, legal literacy and access to justice, has been published. The book brings together contributions from academicians, research scholars and law students from institutions across India.
About NyayaSpandana: Empowering Legal Literacy
NyayaSpandana: Empowering Legal Literacy is an edited book examining different dimensions of legal awareness, legal literacy and access to justice.
The publication comprises 12 chapters authored by Assistant Professors, Research Scholars and undergraduate and postgraduate students from various institutions across the country.
The contributing institutions include:
- National Law School of India University, Bengaluru;
- Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab;
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat;
- Symbiosis Law School, Noida;
- Faculty of Law, University of Lucknow;
- Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur;
- Department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh; and
- Several other institutions across India.
Themes Covered in the Book
The edited book combines doctrinal analysis, practical insights and emerging technological developments while examining several areas connected with legal empowerment.
The themes covered in the publication include:
- Legal aid;
- Pro bono engagement;
- Grassroots justice mechanisms;
- Artificial intelligence and law;
- Environmental governance; and
- Legal education.
Foreword and Preface
The edited book carries forewords by:
- Hon’ble Mr. Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India;
- Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.G. Shah, Former Judge, High Court of Gujarat; and
- Dr. Anju Rathi Rana (ILS), Member Secretary, Law Commission of India, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India.
The preface has been written by Prof. (Dr.) R. Venkata Rao, Vice-Chancellor, India International University of Legal Education and Research, Goa, and former Vice-Chancellor, National Law School of India University, Bengaluru.
Editors-in-Chief and Editor
The Editors-in-Chief of NyayaSpandana: Empowering Legal Literacy are:
- Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.G. Shah, Former Judge, High Court of Gujarat;
- Bhamathi Balasubramaniam (Ex-IAS), Former Secretary to the Government of India;
- Desh Ratan Chaudhary, Senior Advocate Designate;
- Dr. Anindhya Tiwari, Assistant Professor of Law, Hidayatullah National Law University; and
- Akshit Dwivedi, Founding Editor.
Jeevan Sagar, Assistant Professor at Hidayatullah National Law University, serves as the Editor of the publication.
Student Editorial Team
The student editorial team comprises:
- Dipti Singh, Faculty of Law, University of Lucknow;
- Mandvi Dubey, Lloyd Law College;
- Lovepreet Kaur, Army Institute of Law, Mohali;
- Ananya Priyadarshi, Hidayatullah National Law University;
- Pranjal Gautam Bhoir, Hidayatullah National Law University;
- Anindita Pati, Hidayatullah National Law University;
- Srishti Gon, Hidayatullah National Law University;
- Paridhi, Hidayatullah National Law University; and
- Namya Agrawal, Hidayatullah National Law University.
About the Founding Editor
Akshit Dwivedi, a B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) student at Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur, serves as the Founding Editor and one of the Editors-in-Chief of NyayaSpandana: Empowering Legal Literacy.
He also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the International Sai Sewa Trust and has been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Social Work.
Background of the Edited Book
The intellectual foundation of the edited book emerged from the National Seminar titled NyayaSpandana: Empowering Legal Literacy, which was convened virtually on August 24, 2025.
The seminar was organised by the International Sai Sewa Trust in collaboration with the Social Justice Forum under the guiding theme, “Voices United for Legal Empowerment.”
The seminar was inaugurated by Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.G. Shah, Former Judge, High Court of Gujarat, who delivered the inaugural address on the role of the judiciary in advancing legal literacy.
The Guest of Honour address was delivered by Prof. (Dr.) R. Venkata Rao, Vice-Chancellor, India International University of Legal Education and Research, Goa, and former Vice-Chancellor of the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru. He addressed the transformative role of legal education in shaping empowered citizens.
Sessions and Speakers at the Seminar
The seminar featured thematic sessions on subjects including:
- Legal aid frameworks and citizens’ rights;
- Constitutional law and governance; and
- Legal awareness in the context of social movements.
The speakers included:
- Dr. Kalpeshkumar L. Gupta, Founder, ProBono India;
- Dr. Rajput Shraddha Bhausingh, Assistant Professor, Hidayatullah National Law University;
- Dr. Uttam Kumar Panda, Assistant Professor, Hidayatullah National Law University;
- Mr. Shailesh Kumar Pandey, Ph.D. Scholar, Hidayatullah National Law University; and
- Other speakers associated with the seminar.
The seminar was convened by Akshit Dwivedi, Chief Executive Officer, International Sai Sewa Trust.
The edited book also incorporates contributions received through a Call for Papers jointly issued by the International Sai Sewa Trust in collaboration with ProBono India.
About the International Sai Sewa Trust
The International Sai Sewa Trust is a non-governmental organisation established in 2018. It works towards promoting social justice, community welfare and legal awareness across India.
Its initiatives focus on improving access to justice, strengthening women’s and children’s rights, and encouraging civic engagement among marginalised communities.
The Trust organises women empowerment and child development programmes, awareness workshops, national seminars and conferences, along with local and district-level initiatives aimed at extending legal aid and rights education at the grassroots level.
