Overview
The centre’s primary focus is to enhance awareness of contemporary issues within criminal law and the administration of criminal justice. It strives to stimulate meaningful discussions in the field of criminal law and its associated disciplines by providing a platform for relevant academic discourse through its blog. Additionally, the centre seeks to encourage dialogue on current criminal law topics through the organization of national-level competitions. It aims to facilitate meaningful interactions between students and key figures within the criminal justice administration system, including legal professionals, NGOs, scholars, and jurists, by hosting lectures and workshops. The centre endeavours to initiate and sustain engaging conversations among students concerning various aspects of criminal law studies. This is achieved by involving them in frequent events such as film screenings, discussions, reading groups, and more.
Members
Eesha Shrotriya, Assistant Professor, School of Law, RV University (Co-Director) Shantanu Pachauri, Assistant Professor, School of Law, RV University (Co-Director)
Student Members: Aniruta G, Lishika A, Manukumar, Poorvi Gowda, K Spurthi, Rafa Khan, Sambhrama, Sandhyashree Karanth, Shreya Hospet, Spurthi P, Sweksha Sarraf, and Varnitha Hande. (In alphabetical order)
Publications
- Eesha Shrotriya & Shantanu Pachauri, Madhya Pradesh High Court and the Special Marriage Act, The Wire, 11th June 2024.
- Eesha Shrotriya & Shantanu Pachauri, A constitutionally preferable approach to conducting simultaneous elections, IACL-AIDC Blog, 18th June 2024.
- Eesha Shrotriya & Shantanu Pachauri, Why sentencing norms need to be streamlined, Hindustan Times, 27th June 2024.
- Eesha Shrotriya, Kajal Parwani, & Shantanu Pachauri, Human Trafficking Laws fall short, 30th June 2024.
- Eesha Shrotriya & Shantanu Pachauri, A legal remedy that perpetuates survivor trauma, The Hindu, 12th February 2025.
- Eesha Shrotriya & Shantanu Pachauri, Fixing what isn’t broken: The problem with reactionary amendments after crimes of sexual violence, Scroll.in, 28th February 2025.
- Eesha Shrotriya & Shantanu Pachauri, The 129th Constitution Amendment Bill and its Probable Impact on India’s Democratic Framework, IACL-AIDC Blog, 4th March 2025.
- Eesha Shrotriya & Shantanu Pachauri, Simultaneous elections and anti-defection laws in India, LSE South Asia Blog, 31st March 2025.
- Eesha Shrotriya & Shantanu Pachauri, The increasing resort to exceptional laws is corroding India’s justice system, Scroll.in, 9th July 2025.
- Shantanu Pachauri, Narco-analysis and procedural abuse in bail proceedings in India, Oxford Human Rights Hub, 14th July 2025.
- Eesha Shrotriya & Shantanu Pachauri, A High Court directive curbing automatic remand for social media posts lays bare the persistent gaps in law and enforcement, The Leaflet, 17th July 2025.
- Shantanu Pachauri, The right to health as a paper promise, IACL–AIDC Blog, 25th September 2025.
- Eesha Shrotriya & Shantanu Pachauri, Wrongful convictions and institutional denial, Square Circle Blog, 26th September 2025.
- Shantanu Pachauri, Medical misinformation in India: how constitutional populism undermines scientific temper, Hindustan Times, 23rd October 2025.
Activities Organized
- Inaugural lecture on “The Proposed Criminal Law Bills: A Critical Assessment” on November 6, Monday at 10:30 AM by Prof. (Dr.) Anup Surendranath. Dr. Surendranath is a professor of law at NLU Delhi and holds the SK Malik Chair Professorship on Access to Justice. He is the executive director of Project 39A and is also on the Advisory Council of the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, University of Oxford.
In his address, Prof. Anup Surendranath argued that the new criminal law bills are cosmetic changes, not true reforms or acts of decolonization, since most provisions of the colonial codes remain intact. He emphasized that real reform lies in reimagining the state-citizen relationship, strengthening criminal justice institutions, and addressing the social roots of crime like poverty and patriarchy rather than relying on harsher punishments. He also criticized the undemocratic, non-consultative process behind the bills’ drafting and called for deeper, evidence-based and inclusive reform. - 1st RVU National Essay Competition 2023 on Criminal Law for school and college students on November 30, 2023.
- Public lecture on ‘Special Criminal Laws in Indian Legal System’ by Mr. Kunal Ambasta,Assistant Professor, National Law School of India University (NLSIU), on 24th April, 2024 from 11:15am – 12:25pm. Mr. Ambasta obtained his B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) from NLSIU in 2012 and his LL.M. from the University of California, Berkeley in 2013. He is one of the directors of The Justice Initiative (TJI). His research interest lies in the criminal justice system, the law of evidence and proof, and the interface between law, sexuality, and gender identity.
The lecture examined how special statutes such as the UAPA, POCSO, and NDPS Act have altered the balance between state power and individual rights. Prof. Ambasta discussed the historical evolution of such laws, their procedural deviations from ordinary criminal law, and their implications for fair trial and due process. He highlighted concerns regarding the reversal of the presumption of innocence, extended pre-trial detention, and limited judicial oversight, arguing that these “special” regimes often compromise constitutional safeguards in the name of efficiency or national security.
Contact us
Email address: ccjs@rvu.edu.in.
Faculty Coordinators: eeshas@rvu.edu.in and shantanup@rvu.edu.in.
Location: RV Vidyanikethan Post
8th Mile, Mysuru Road, Bengaluru – 560 059
Follow us on:
LinkedIn: Centre for Criminal Justice Studies
Instagram: ccjsrvu
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