IIT Kharagpur Hosts 7th Research Colloquium On Advancing Empiricism In Legal Scholarship

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.

In her address, Prof. Dipa Dube, Dean, RGSOIPL, underscored that “the next generation of legal researchers must learn to think in data but reason in justice.”
Prof. Ahuja highlighted the importance of evidence-based policymaking, while Dr. Velpandian urged scholars to bridge the gap between legal analysis and policy impact. Prof. Niharika Sahoo Bhattacharya proposed the vote of thanks.

Plenaries and Workshops

The Colloquium featured a series of plenary sessions and hands-on workshops that explored the intersection of law, data, and technology.

The first plenary, “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 session examined how artificial intelligence can structure judicial data, predict case trends, and improve procedural efficiency.

A workshop on Statistical Analysis in Legal Research, led by Prof. Neha Jaiswal (NIT Jamshedpur) and moderated by Prof. Shakti Deb, introduced participants to empirical design, hypothesis testing, and inferential logic.

The second plenary, “Integration of Technology and Other Sciences in Legal Research,” moderated by Prof. M. Padmavati, brought together Prof. Manas K. Mandal (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). The discussion emphasized interdisciplinary connections between behavioural science, economics, and environmental studies within legal contexts.

Prof. Rudra Prakash Pradhan (VGSoM, IIT Kharagpur) conducted a session on “Correlation and Causation in Legal Research,” while interactive formats like the World Café and Blind Spot Diagnostic Exercises encouraged participants to identify biases and challenge methodological assumptions.

The Research Methodology Design Exercise provided practical training in research formulation, variable identification, and aligning empirical methods with theoretical frameworks.

The third plenary, “Qualitative Study of Judicial Patterns,” featured Prof. Shruti Bedi (Director, UILS, Panjab University) and Prof. Sitharamam Kakarala (NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad), moderated by Prof. S. Subramanian (RGSOIPL). The speakers underlined the importance of blending interpretive analysis with measurable indicators to ensure that judicial narratives remain both empirical and ethical.

Highlight Events

Two interactive sessions — the World Café and Blind Spot Diagnostic Exercises — stood out for promoting critical reflection on unconscious bias and interpretive blind spots in empirical legal reasoning.
The Research Methodology Design Exercise was another intellectual highlight, guiding early-career scholars in constructing hypotheses, operationalising variables, and aligning methodology with theory.

Together, these sessions transformed the Colloquium into a “laboratory of ideas” — blending pedagogy, collaboration, and critical introspection.

Academic Paper and Poster Presentations

Across six parallel sessions and one online panel, researchers presented papers on topics ranging 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, automation-era intellectual property, and the intersections of AI, 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) — explored climate justice, ecological governance, and the balance between sustainability and development.
• Session III: Constitutionalism, Rights, and the Architecture of Justice
  Chaired by Prof. Sanjit Kumar Chakraborty (WBNUJS) and Co-chaired by Prof. Prakash Sharma (RGSOIPL) — examined empirical and doctrinal perspectives on fundamental rights, judicial accountability, and constitutional safeguards in India's 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) — focused on data protection, cyber ethics, and digital rights, stressing the need for a robust regulatory framework.
• Session V: Law, Society, and Human Experience
  Chaired by Prof. Utpal Kumar Raha (Xavier Law School) and Co-chaired by Prof. Avnish Bhatt (RGSOIPL) — analyzed socio-legal dimensions of human experience through an empirical lens.
• 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 frontier issues like virtual worlds, AI regulation, and technology-enabled governance.

Around 10 academic posters on Epistemology, Technology, Intellectual Property, and Data Governance further reflected the expanding 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.”

Through its plenaries, interactive workshops, and methodological exercises, the 7th Research Colloquium 2025 reaffirmed IIT Kharagpur's pioneering role in advancing empirical legal scholarship in India.

With around 70 participants and 60 total presentations, the event successfully bridged academic rigor with policy relevance, ensuring that law remains empirical in method yet humane in purpose.