Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights(CCJHR)
About us
The Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights has been established with the purpose of providing a platform for discussion and deliberation on the niche area of Criminal Justice and Human Rights. The Centre endeavors through its multifaceted activities to foster a better understanding about the relationship between Criminal Justice and Human rights. The Vision behind the establishment of the Centre is to contribute in terms generating interest and discussion on the contentious issues regarding this field of law and deliberating future course of actions to prevent such events.
Vision and Mission
The criminal justice system has been long viewed as being the source of grave human rights violations. The study of the intersection of the two disciplines is of utmost importance and also raises contentious issues and debates.
The Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights (CCJHR) aims to contribute in terms of study and research, for better understanding of the nexus between the criminal justice system and the arena of human rights. The functionaries of the criminal justice system and the threshold of human rights are closely intertwined, and the centre aims at analyzing the working of the various functionaries to work a way for the future to minimize human rights violations.
Contemporary happenings around the world have steered heated discussions in this area of law, and the centre aims at adding novel perspectives in national as well as international discussions in the form of blogs, newsletters, research documents, working papers, publications, seminars, conferences, projects and engagement.
The vision of the centre is perfectly embodied in the words of
Martin Luther King Jr,
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere…”
The centre’s major goal is to conduct extensive research and analysis into the current legal system’s operation in the field of human rights. Because human rights are such an important element of one’s life, this is a very important field to work in. It has never been more necessary to study human rights, especially given so many recent occurrences involving violations of human rights not only in India but also in the rest of the world. This is what our centre aspires to achieve.
Objectives–
In order to successfully achieve the above aim, the centre is planning to work on the following objectives-
- We will work on taking up various research projects and collaborations with various departments such as the prison department.
- Various training/capacity-building programs will be scheduled such as webinars and seminars in order to give a better understanding of the whole matter.
- Various UG and PG diploma courses will be introduced.
Partnership and MoU -
National Law University Odisha signed a MoU with the Directorate of Prison and Correctional Services, Odisha on the occasion of Republic Day, 26th January 2022. The MoU was signed by Prof. (Dr.) Yogesh Pratap Singh, Registrar Nluo and the DIG of Prisons Mr. Subhukant Mishra in presence of Hon’ble Chief Justice Dr. S.Muralidhar, Vice Chancellor Prof. Ved Kumari and DG Prison, Mr. Santosh Upadhyay. The University will work along with the Prison Department to carry out various research activities, training programmes and also provide PG Diploma in Prison Administration and Correctional Administration. The DG Prisons Mr. Santosh Upadhyay gave his vision on the MoU and thanked Hon’ble Chief Justice for his encouragement regarding the same.
Events
Date: 17th February 2022
Event: NCW Eastern Regional Consultation on “Review of Criminal Laws – Improvement in Status of Women”
About the Event:
Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights in collaboration with Centre for Women and Law organized National Commission for Women (NCW) Eastern Regional Consultation for the states of Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bihar on ‘Review of Criminal Law: Improvement in Status of Women’ on 17th February 2022. The objective of this consultation was to review and analyze the position of law; and formulate consolidated recommendations for viable amendments keeping in view the perspective and position of women in India. This regional consultation witnessed participation from members of State Women Commissions, NGOs, members of Civil Societies, Delegates from Academia, Legal Professionals, Police Personnel and Prison Officials to give their views and opinions through deliberations in focused group discussions.
The welcome address was delivered by Prof. Ved Kumari, Vice-Chancellor, National Law University Odisha, where she delineated the questions and points to be discussed during the consultation process. Ms. Rekha Sharma, Chairperson, NCW delivered the inaugural address. Dr. Usha Ramanathan, noted academician and leading human rights activist, shared her insights on ‘Looking at Criminal Law through the Lens of Women Studies’. Other notable speakers were Mr. Debi Prasad Dhal, Members, Bar Council of India, and Prof. Gangotri Chakraborty.
The consultation programme revolved around extensive discussion and deliberation on sexual offences; offences relating to marriage; cruelty by husband and his relatives; maintenance of wives, children and parents; need for modification in provisions of arrest, search and seizure, etc. among other important points. At the end of the consultation, some of the resolutions were as follows – marital rape as an exception should be deleted and should be treated as an offence. However, there were concerns on standard of proof, punishment, etc.; Section 498 of IPC (abduction of a married woman) should be repealed as regular abduction provision will be applicable; Section 498A should remain a cognizable offence; battered woman syndrome should be included under right of private defence; a sexual offenders’ registry should be maintained although with confidentiality being maintained; emphasis on speedy justice; gender neutral terms in sexual offences should be used with victims including third gender as well. There should be inclination towards rehabilitation and restorative justice as well. The participants of the consultation programme also emphasized on strengthening existing support systems under criminal law, and better implementation of existing laws rather than adding or creating more laws and provisions.
Student members-
Anuj Shukla
Ketan Dev
Anand Shukla
Srutee Priyadarshini
Karshana Agarwal
Kumar Atul
Mohit Chand
Rae Kusumika
Ashvi Jain
Mandar Prakhar
