NLIU Bhopal Calls Submissions For International Conference On 'Echoes of Bhopal Gas Tragedy: Four Decades Of Reckoning & Lessons For The Future'

The National Law Institute University, Bhopal invites submissions for its International Conference on “Echoes of Bhopal Gas Tragedy: Four Decades of Reckoning and Lessons for the Future.”

The National Law Institute University, Bhopal (NLIU) was established by The Rashtriya Vidhi Sansthan Vishwavidyalaya Adhiniyam, Act No. 41 of 1997, and substituted by Act No. 6 of 2018, enacted by the Madhya Pradesh State Legislature. NLIU is recognized by the University Grants Commission and the Bar Council of India. The main objective of NLIU is to impart and disseminate legal education in order to achieve excellence by way of organizing study programs and promoting research with a focus on improving the ability of students and research scholars to analyze contemporary issues of public concerns and their legal implications so that law learners acquire skills to advance legal education in a professional and a responsible manner.

Objectives

1. To revisit the Bhopal Gas Tragedy through a legal, historical, and interdisciplinary lens, situating it within both national and global discourses on industrial disasters and human rights.

2. To analyse the evolution of Indian legal and regulatory frameworks post-Bhopal, particularly in the areas of industrial safety, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), environmental protection, and public liability, while drawing parallels with international legal developments.

3. To evaluate the role of the Indian judiciary in responding to mass torts and environmental disasters, and explore comparative judicial approaches from other jurisdictions in dealing with corporate negligence and transboundary industrial risks.

4. To propose forward-looking legal, institutional, and policy reforms that promote justice, accountability, and sustainability—not only within India's industrial governance framework but also in the context of international standards and cross-border corporate conduct.

5. To foster international dialogue and collaboration on corporate accountability, environmental health, and industrial risk management, with the aim of building resilient legal systems that can effectively prevent and respond to future industrial catastrophes across borders.

Themes

1. Mass Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Building: From Commitment to Action

2. State Liability and Regulatory Oversight

3. Environment and Public Health: The Lingering Shadows of Bhopal Gas Tragedy

4. Judicial Approach: Remedial Justice and Beyond

5. International Frameworks Legal Perspectives Themes

6. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): From Philanthropy to Accountability

Note: The above list is indicative and not exhaustive. Submissions on any topic relevant to the mentioned themes are welcome.

Abstract Submission

The abstract shall be submitted in accordance with the following guidelines: Cover Page of the abstract must include:

• Title of the paper
• The conference theme relevant to the submission
• Author(s) name(s), designation, and name of the affiliated institution/university
• Contact details: Email address and contact number of the corresponding author.
• Abstracts must be concise and informative, with a word count between 200–300 words.
• Keywords: Please include 5–6 relevant keywords
• All submissions must be made in English only.
• Co-authorship is allowed for a maximum of two authors, subject to registration as per the given scheme.
• Google Form link for Abstract Submission -https://forms.gle/LaVzNrzzXrF8mszAA

Paper Submission

Authors are requested to adhere to the following guidelines for the submission of full papers: Originality and Plagiarism: Submitted manuscripts must be the original and unpublished work of the author(s). Any form of plagiarism is strictly prohibited. Papers with a similarity index exceeding 10% will not be considered for review.

1. Word Limit: The manuscript should be between 3,500 to 4,500 words, excluding references and footnotes.

2. File Format : Papers must be submitted in Microsoft Word format only (.doc or .docx files).

3. Formatting Requirements

• Main Text: Times New Roman, Font Size 12, 1.5 line spacing
• Headings: Times New Roman, Font Size 14, Bold
• Footnotes: Times New Roman, Font Size 10, Single line spacing

4. Citation Style: All submissions must follow the Oxford University Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities (OSCOLA), 4th edition (Hart Publishing, 2012). Submissions not conforming to this citation style will be rejected.

Important Dates

• Last Date of Abstract Submission: 25 August 2025
• Declaration of Accepted Abstract: 30 August, 2025
• Last Date for Registration: 05 September, 2025
• Last Date of Submission of Full Paper: 10 October, 2025

Contact

Email: internationalconferencebgd@nliu.ac.in

For more details refer to the brochure here.