Seminar on ‘Exploring Tradition for Innovation in Indian Jurisprudence’

Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur, in association with Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, Ramtek has successfully organised a National Seminar on ‘Exploring Tradition for Innovation in Indian Jurisprudence’ on saturday.  The programme started with the welcome address of Prof. (Dr.) Vijender Kumar, Vice Chancellor of MNLU, Nagpur, who also set the tone of the seminar and highlighted the need and importance of such an event to develop indigenous model of jurisprudence as envisaged by the Chancellor of the University, Hon’ble Shri Justice SA Bobde, Judge, Supreme Court of India. Speaking on the occasion, Justice BR Gavai, Judge, High Court of Bombay stated that Indian Shastras are full of rules and regulations which are required to be explored for justice dispensation in our country.  He brought out that all modern western judicial concept such as rule of law, non-arbitrariness, constitutionalism is fully described in our shastras.  Even the qualities of a judge such as he should not have Raga (Affection), Bhaya (Fear), Dwesh (Ill will) etc is written in our Shastras.  PS Narasimha, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India and Former Solicitor General of India, who was present as Guest of Honour on the occasion said that whole knowledge of the universe can be found in the Vedas and our judiciary should try to take lead from our own ancient books for doing justice instead of taking help from western decisions, which has been rendered in different culture and contest.  Prof. (Dr.) Shrinivasa Varakhedi, Vice Chancellor, KKSU, Ramtek in his short speech told that the research and study of Sanskrit is important for better interpretation of the laws of the land.  Padma Shri Chamu Krishna Shastry, Trusty Secretary, Sanskrit Promotion Foundation and co-founder Samskruta Bharati hold the attention of whole hall by speaking in Sankrit with great enthusiasm. He emphasised several benefits of study of Sanskrit and told that it is easy to learn this language for most of the Indian Languages have their origin in it. Earlier Prof. (Dr.) TV Subba Rao of NLSIU Bangalore and Prof. (Dr.) Madhusudan Penna, HOD, Faculty of Religion, Philosophy and Culture, KKSU spoke about the meaning of Dharma which is much wider than the English word of religion.

The Penal Discussion cum Valedictory session began with the welcome and felicitation of the Chief Guest of the function Hon’ble Shri Justice BN Shrikrishna, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India. Justice BN Shrikrishna enlightened the audience by his deep knowledge and wisdom of Indian Darma Shastra. He lamented that all most all countries for example Japan, Israil, even China have their own jurisprudence, but we have none.  It is right time that the students of law research and develop our own jurisprudence.  He also stated that application of  legal interpretation and doctrines developed five thousand kilometers and few centuries ago in UK may not be able to do complete justice, because language.  The Chief Guest also released Flagship peer reviewed journal of MNLU, Nagpur – ‘Contemporary Law Review’ (Volume 2, Number II, 2018) and announced the launch of  Certificate Course on Shastric Method of Argumentation based on ancient Indian Nyayashastra and Jurisprudence being jointly started by MNLU Nagpur and KKSU, Ramtek.  Earlier to this three parallel technical sessions were held where in nineteen research papers on various themes were presented. The deep interest of Hon’ble shri Justice BN Shrikrishna in ancient Indian Jurisprudence can be understood by the fact that he decided to jointly a technical session alongwith Prof. (Dr.) TV Subba Rao, NLSIU, Bangalore and Dr VP Tiwari, Associate Professor of Law, MNLU, Nagpur.  The Vote of thanks was given by Prof. C Ramesh Kumar, the Registrar of the University.  Other important dignitaries present on the occasion were Hon’ble Shri Justice RK Deshpande of  Hon’ble Shri Justice MG Giratkar of Bombay High Court, Prof. (Dr.) JS Patil, Vice Chancellor, NLUJA, Assam, Shri Justice, Dr Anirban Chakraborty, Dr Himanshu Pandey, Dr. Manish Yadav, Dr Ragini, Dr Deepmala Baghel, Ms Illa Sudame Deshpande etc.