Inaugural Session
The Colloquium was inaugurated by Prof. V. K. Ahuja, Director, Indian Law Institute (New Delhi), as Chief Guest, and Dr. Banusri Velpandian, Senior Specialist (Law, Research and Networking), NITI Aayog, as Guest of Honour, under the patronage of Prof. Rintu Banerjee, Deputy Director, IIT Kharagpur.
Prof. Dipa Dube, Dean, RGSOIPL, in her address, emphasised that the next generation of legal researchers must learn to think in data but reason in justice. Prof. Ahuja underscored the necessity of evidence-based policy formation, while Dr. Velpandian encouraged researchers to bridge the gap between legal analysis and policy impact. Prof. Niharika Sahoo Bhattacharya proposed the vote of thanks.
Plenaries and Workshops
The first plenary on “Big Data and Legal Research” featured Dr. Tanushyam Chattopadhyay (Sirius Digitech, Kolkata) and Ms. Mayuri Gupta (Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, New Delhi), moderated by Prof. Uday Shankar, RGSOIPL. The speakers discussed the role of AI in structuring judicial data, predicting case trends, and enhancing procedural efficiency.
A workshop on Statistical Analysis in Legal Research, led by Prof. Neha Jaiswal (NIT Jamshedpur) and moderated by Prof. Shakti Deb, trained participants in empirical design, hypothesis testing, and inferential logic.
The second plenary, “Integration of Technology and Other Sciences in Legal Research,” moderated by Prof. M. Padmavati, featured Prof. Manas K. Mandal (Psychology, IIT Kharagpur; former DG-Life Sciences, DRDO), Prof. M. Sakthivel (TNNLU), Prof. Achin Chakraborty (Institute of Development Studies Kolkata), and Prof. M. D. Behera(CORAL, IIT Kharagpur). They highlighted interdisciplinary synergies between behavioural science, economics, and environmental research within legal contexts.
Prof. Rudra Prakash Pradhan (VGSoM, IIT Kharagpur) conducted a session on Correlation and Causation in Legal Research, while the World Café and Blind Spot Diagnostic Exercises encouraged participants to identify biases in empirical interpretation.
The Research Methodology Design Exercise provided participants with practical experience in formulating research questions, identifying variables, and aligning methods with theory.
Plenary Session III, “Qualitative Study of Judicial Patterns,” brought together Prof. Shruti Bedi (Director, UILS, Panjab University) and Prof. Sitharamam Kakarala (NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad), moderated by Prof. S. Subramanian, RGSOIPL. The discussion underlined the importance of integrating interpretive depth with measurable indicators to ensure that judicial narratives remain both empirical and ethical.
Highlight Events
Among the most engaging components of the Colloquium were the World Café and Blind Spot Diagnostic Exercises, which fostered collaborative discussions on unconscious bias in empirical interpretation and academic reasoning. Participants were encouraged to critique their own methodological assumptions and identify hidden variables that often shape legal inference.
The Research Methodology Design Exercise emerged as another intellectual high point, providing hands-on experience in designing research problems, constructing hypotheses, and operationalising variables. The exercise helped early-career scholars align theory with methodology and translate conceptual insight into structured empirical frameworks.
Together, these interactive formats transformed the Colloquium into a laboratory of ideas — blending pedagogy, collaboration, and critical introspection.
Academic Paper and Poster Presentations
About 50 papers were presented across six parallel sessions and one online panel, covering domains from artificial intelligence and environmental law to constitutional rights, privacy, and social justice.
-
Session I: AI, Technology, Innovation and Law — Chaired by Prof. Debashree Mukherjee (Sister Nivedita University) and Co-chaired by Prof. Narendran Thiruthy (RGSOIPL) — Featured pioneering papers on algorithmic accountability, intellectual property in the age of automation, and the evolving intersections between artificial intelligence, innovation policy, and legal regulation.
-
Session II: Environmental Law and Developmental Governance — Chaired by Prof. Anwesha Aditya (IIT Kharagpur) and Co-chaired by Prof. Arindam Basu (RGSOIPL) — Engaged with critical perspectives on climate justice, ecological governance, and the balance between environmental sustainability and developmental imperatives in contemporary policy frameworks.
-
Session III: Constitutionalism, Rights, and the Architecture of Justice — Chaired by Prof. Sanjit Kumar Chakraborty (WBNUJS) and Co-chaired by Prof. Prakash Sharma (RGSOIPL) — Explored empirical and doctrinal analyses of fundamental rights, judicial accountability, and the dynamic interpretation of constitutional safeguards in India’s evolving democracy.
-
Session IV: Cyber Governance, Privacy, and Digital Justice — Chaired by Prof. Rakesh Kumar Singh (St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata) and Co-chaired by Prof. Varuna Chakraborty (RGSOIPL) — Examined issues of data protection, online safety, cyber ethics, and digital rights, highlighting the need for a robust regulatory framework to safeguard privacy in the information age.
-
Session V: Law, Society, and Human Experience — Chaired by Prof. Utpal Kumar Raha (Xavier Law School) and Co-chaired by Prof. Avnish Bhatt (RGSOIPL) — Examined issues of data protection, online safety, cyber ethics, and digital rights, highlighting the need for a robust regulatory framework to safeguard privacy in the information age.
-
Session VI (Online): Law, Technology, and Emerging Frontiers of Justice — Chaired by Prof. Kallol Dutt (Centre of Excellence in Public Policy, Law and Governance, IIT Kharagpur) and Co-chaired by Prof. Shakti Deb (RGSOIPL) — Addressed cutting-edge questions on virtual worlds, digital crime, AI regulation, and technology-enabled governance, bridging empirical insight with legal innovation.
About 10 academic posters were also exhibited on themes such as Epistemology, Technology, Intellectual Property, and Data Governance, reflecting the evolving scope of empirical inquiry in law.
Valedictory Session and Awards
The Valedictory Session was presided over by Prof. Ashoke Kumar Dutta, Founder Director, IIM Shillong, as Chief Guest, with Prof. Shruti Bedi as Guest of Honour. Prof. Dipa Dube delivered the welcome address, reaffirming IIT Kharagpur’s mission to “build a legal academy where data and doctrine coalesce in pursuit of social justice.”
Awards and Recognition
-
First Prize: Mr. Surla Shiva, PhD Scholar, GITAM University, Visakhapatnam — “Quantifying Constitutional Justice and Compensatory Inequality.”
-
Second Prize: Ms. Shristi Kulshrestha, PhD Scholar, Bennett University — “Virtual Crime and Accountability: Empirical Trends and Doctrinal Responses in the Metaverse.”
-
Third Prize: Ms. Anju Ruchika Ekka, PhD Scholar, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad — “Environmental Justice in India: Advancing Equitable Policy through Empirical Research.”
-
Special Appreciation: Mr. Uttam Gupta, LL.M. Student, RGSOIPL, IIT Kharagpur — “AI, Intellectual Property, and Algorithmic Competition: Governance Challenges in the Cybersecurity and Blockchain Nexus.”
Conclusion
Through its plenaries, interactive workshops, and research design exercises, the 7th Research Colloquium 2025 reaffirmed IIT Kharagpur’s role in advancing empirical legal scholarship in India. With about 70 participants and 60 presentations, the event established a model for bridging academic rigor with real-world policy insight — ensuring that law remains empirical in method but humane in purpose.