VIRTUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PRISON REFORMS IN INDIA: SOCIO- LEGAL PERSPECTIVE 17-18 May, 2020

                                                      

VIRTUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

ON

PRISON REFORMS IN INDIA: SOCIO- LEGAL PERSPECTIVE

17-18 May, 2020

Organized by:

UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF LEGAL STUDIES, PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH

PATRON-IN-CHIEF                                                                            PATRON         

Prof. (Dr.) Raj Kumar                                                                          Ms. Anu Chatrath                         

Vice –Chancellor, P.U.                                                 Dean, Faculty of Law                    

Panjab University                                                                  Panjab University

Chandigarh (India)                                                                Chandigarh (India)

PATRON                                                                                    EVENT ORGANIZER

Rattan Singh                                                                              Dr. Anju Choudhary

Director, UILS                                                                           Teacher In- Charge

Panjab University                                                                      CJPC

                                                                          

             Faculty Coordinators: Dr. Abha            Mr. Harvinder             Ms. Shafali

                                                  

                                                                                                              

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

The Conference would be conducted in two parts.

Part I: This Part of the conference would consist of Inaugural Session Cum Panel Discussion. Distinguished panellist from the field of Academics, Correctional Administration, Member of Parliament, Judiciary and Advocacy would discuss the functionality of Prisons and the difficulties faced by the Prison Officers in discharge of their duties. The focus of the event is diverted towards the Issues and Challenges faced by Prison Officers, Rights of Prisoners (Male, Females and LGBTQ), Reformation of Prisoners, Concept of Prisons vis-a-vis Correctional Institutions, Issues related to Prisoners, Health Review of Inmates and Jail Staff, Lodging of cases through Prison Authorities, Crimes Committed inside Prisons, Rehabilitation and Welfare of Prisoners, The various amendments needed in the Prison Manuals and perception of Prison Officers in political and public domain.

This part of the event would help in facilitating the researcher and academicians in understanding the true picture of the correctional institutions and would further help them in writing meaningful reviews.

Part –II: The second part of the conference would constitute the presentation of research papers submitted by the participants. Interested participants are advised to closely watch Part-1 of the Conference, which would provide them an insight on the working of Correctional Institutions and the role played by various functionaries in Correctional Administration.

“It is not the prisoners that need reformation, it is the prisons” – Oscar Wilde 

The existence of prisons is an indispensable part of our society because there cannot be any society without crime and criminals. Punishment is a primary response by the criminal justice system of every country to the criminality and it is considered as a paramount duty of all civilized Nations. The prison has been a form of punishment and history reveals the evolution of the types of prisons across the globe.

It is evident from the historical literatures that the prison environment is depicted as deplorable and inhumane. Prison environment varies widely around the world and the wide range of prison conditions reflects how each country treats its criminals. In India, there are various issues plaguing these prisons such as housing large number of inmates together in extremely small spaces leading to congestion, issues with accessibility to legal-aid, physical and mental harassment of the prisoners, meagre wages for their labour and many other related issues. Various committees have been set up and had suggested reforms to tackle this issue but marginal reforms have taken place and these are not enough to ensure that prison conditions are in tune with human rights norms. Therefore, there is dire need to reform the Indian Prison System so that it provides just and humane environment to the inmates in consonance with the Human Rights.

Zero Waste Conference:

Taking into consideration the lock down and pandemic stress, the people across the globe facing, we are proposing to host this conference as an online virtual conference assuring zero waste event.

SUB- THEMES:

The Online National Conference will provide a platform to deliberate and propose suggestions on the following issues:

• Prison Reforms: National and International Socio-Legal Perspective.
• Prison Reforms: Human Rights and Constitutional Perspective
• Emerging Legislative and Judicial Trends in Prison Reforms.
• Overcrowding and Sub-Human Conditions of Prisons : Matter of Concern During COVID-19
• Role of NGOs, Human Right Activists and Government in Prison Reforms.
• Human Rights of Prisoners: Issues and Challenges
• Democracy and Prisoner’s Right to Vote.
•  Legal- Aid and its Accessibility to the Prisoners.
• Safety and Security in Prisons
•  Socio- Economic Impediments in Prison Reforms.
• Rehabilitation and Welfare of Prisoners
•  Issues and Challenges Faced by Female Correctional Officers
• Rights of Prisoners (Male, Females and LGBTQ)
• Concept of Prisons vis-a-vis Correctional Institutions
• Education, Skill Training and Employment Opportunities for the Prisoners
• Physical and Psychological Challenges encountered by Female Prison Officers
•  Juvenile Prisoners: Protection, Issues and Concerns.
• Harassment, Torture and Mental Health of the Prisoners.
• Emerging Issues in Development of Children of Women Prisoners.
• Disabled Prisoner: Issues and Challenges
• Prison Modernisation in India

Any other themes related with the above issues are open to be deliberated upon.

REGISTRATION LINK:  https://forms.gle/BUGcrGoRVMqzLUr59

ABOUT PANJAB UNIVERSITY

Established in 1882 in Lahore, Panjab University is one of the oldest Universities in India. The university has 75 teaching and research departments and 15 centres/chairs for teaching and research at the main campus located at Chandigarh. It has 188 affiliated colleges spread over Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Regional Centres at Muktsar, Ludhiana and Hoshiarpur. The University has been incorporated for the purposes, among others, of imparting education in Arts, Letters, Science and the learned professions and of furthering advancement of learning, the prosecution of original research, with power to appoint University Professors, Associate and Assistant Professors , to hold and manage educational endowments, to erect, equip and maintain University colleges, libraries, laboratories and museums, to making regulations relating to the residence and conduct of students and to do all such acts as tend to promote study and research. The University has been an alma mater to some of the most recognised faces in the country, including former Prime Ministers Dr. Manmohan Singh and Mr. I.K. Gujral. A strong political culture can be seen in the University with elections for various departmental posts and the student council being held every year. It is a time of much fervor and enthusiasm which incorporates active competition from a number of student political parties. The University has exclusive sport facilities, aiming to incorporate infrastructure for all sports. A sports hostel has been dedicated for the sports persons in the University. One of the main highlights of the University is the AC. Joshi Library. With state of the art infrastructure, the library houses more than 8,00,000 books and periodicals. It has stood to become a beacon of the bright future of the students who toil for hours inside it. The student, staff and faculty all endeavour together to ensure that the University stays at the very top for the years to come.

ABOUT UNIVERISITY INSTITUTE OF LEGAL STUDIES

University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS) was established in 2004-05 with the aim of providing quality education and training in the legal profession. Despite having recent beginnings and facing teething problems, UILS has become one of the premier institutions in the country for providing legal education. The Institute has pioneered in providing a holistic environment for growth which is not limited to the classroom. The stimulating and interactive academic environment of the Institute helps to hone the Drafting, Research, Advocacy, Interviewing and Negotiating skills of the students. While the faculty sets a standard that well serves the expectations of the students, the students are trained in essence of the substantive laws, techniques of procedural laws, methods of client counselling and skills in legal and social sciences research etc. The Institute provides opportunities to the creative students to pursue their interests in various artistic fields inside and outside the department. The Institute also exposes its students to the 'law in action' through compulsory internships with Hon'ble Judges of Supreme Court, Punjab and Haryana High Court, eminent lawyers, legal firms, various commissions and NGOs etc. The Institute's own Legal Aid Clinic provides free legal services to the economically weaker sections of the society as a part of community outreach programme of the Institute. It also offers opportunities to the students to work in co- ordination with practicing lawyers. The focus of the Institution is not only schooling but complete education and shaping of the personality of its students to not only be successful in their respective fields, but be responsible and productive citizens.

ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRACTICUM CELL

Criminal Justice Practicum Cell (CJPC) is an applied learning programme for the youth so as to understand the depth of the criminal justice system through real-world experience. It is an essential first step in entering the world which will help the students to enhance skills and refine their career goals and plans.

CJPC’s agenda is to expand and enrich student understanding of the criminal justice system. It will supplement traditional classroom teaching with some real- life intern experience. It will help the students to develop professional knowledge.

ABOUT THE EVENT ORGANIZER

Dr. Anju Choudhary, is a Gold Medalist Law Graduate and have completed her Masters in Law and Ph.D. from Panjab University, Chandigarh. She is working in University Institute of Legal Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, since Year 2008, as a permanent faculty, teaching both Under Graduate and Post Graduate disciplines. She has a rich teaching experience of 14 years and actively involved with teaching and sensitizing of government officials from various departments, on emerging issues and challenges pertaining to law.

CALL FOR PAPERS

Research papers are invited from the academicians, practitioners, research scholars and students on the issues related to the themes. The quality based selected paper may be published in the book. Only full papers submitted on or before the deadline shall be considered for publication. The authors of selected abstracts will be given an opportunity to present their papers during various sessions of the National Online Conference.

TIMELINE FOR THE CONFERENCE:

Last date for registration, submission of Abstract  and full Research paper	14th May 2020
Notification of acceptance of Abstract	15th May 2020
Panel Discussion	17th May 2020
Date of Paper Presentation	18h May 2020

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Authors are requested to adhere to the following guidelines to facilitate the submission process. A paper cannot have more than one co- author.

I.                   Abstract Submission:

• After registering on the link given above, the participants have to submit an extended abstract to conferencecjpc2020@gmail.com latest by 14^th May 2020 with the following information.
•  The guidelines for submission of extended abstract are:
• All submissions must be made in Microsoft Word format (.doc/docx) only. An extended abstract should be a short paper where the research work is presented in a concise way.
• The abstract should not be exceeding a word limit of 500-800 words. 
• Title, Author’s name and Affiliation, Co-Author’s name and Affiliation, Full Postal Address, Telephone, and E-mail Address as cover page. 
• Keywords: Maximum eight words

Other Guidelines:

1.  Introduction: The introduction should comprise of background and/or motivation for the research including comparison to related research work.
2. Objectives: The objectives of the research paper must summarize what the author intends to achieve by the research study.
3. Theory: A brief description of the theoretical foundations, research framework, etc. which is relevant to the work submitted. 
4. Research Methodology: This section should describe what will be the research methodology and research design adopted and followed by the author. 
5. Discussion: This part of the paper should highlight the discussion on analysis on the research objective highlighting the key legal issues. 
6. Findings: On the basis of discussion and case analysis what the researcher wants to put up as his final contribution to the research work. 
7. References: Please include references prepared according to the Standard Indian Legal Citation provided as under :
8. General Guidelines for Extended Abstracts  words Format requirement

Font Style	Times New Roman
Line Spacing	1.5 (Main Text); 1(Footnotes)
Font Size	12 (Main Text); 10 (Footnotes)
Margin	1” on all sides  of Page
Numbering of Pages	“a of y” on right side of the page
File Name	Name of Author + Title of Paper
File Format	.doc/.docx/ pdf

 II.                Submission Guidelines for Full Extended Paper:

1. The manuscript should not be exceeding a word limit of 4,000-5,000 words.
2. Author(s) description describing current designation, affiliation and specialization should be provided in the manuscript.
3. The manuscript must be mailed along with your registration form to conferencecjpc2020@gmail.com.
4. The length of paper can be requested to increase or decrease depending upon publisher publication conditions.
5. Paper must be clearly written in English.

Publication:  All papers will be reviewed by conference committee for presentation. Selected papers may be published in the form of a book. The guidelines for Plagiarism will be as per the publisher’s requirement.

v NO PAPER SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE READ.

v THERE IS NO REGISTRATION FEE.

For any queries, contact student coordinators:

VijayLakshmi: 9812464715                                                      Sahil Jain: 9468031236

Sanjana: 9915248928                                                                 Supriya: 9501641789

Japsehaj( President CJPC)       Dheerja ( Covenor CJPC)   Tanya ( Co-Convenor CJPC)