RGNUL: Abstract Submission | 2nd National Seminar On Alternative Dispute Resolution In Consumer Protection In India.

The Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab, was established by the State Legislature of Punjab by passing the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab Act 2006 (Punjab Act No. 12 of 2006). The Act incorporated a University of Law of national stature in Punjab, to fulfill the need for a Centre of Excellence in legal education in the modern era of globalization and liberalization.

The Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (CADR) has been established to promote students' and researchers' interest in Alternative Dispute Resolution constituting dispute resolution methods like Arbitration, Negotiation, Mediation and Conciliation. ADR mechanisms are slowly gaining momentum and are becoming a part of the Indian justice delivery system. It is all due to the efforts of Legal Services Authorities under the Legal Services Authorities Act, of 1987. These dispute resolution methods, though more economical and faster are not yet very popular among common Indian masses. CADR endeavours to promote and develop ADR as a vehicle of socio-economic and political justice. The ultimate objective of the Centre is to strengthen the ADR mechanism in the country by emerging as a platform for students to further their interests in the field. A strong team of teachers and students is working towards achieving this end.

Another Centre of Excellence, namely the Centre for Consumer Protection Laws and Advocacy (CCPLA) has been established on the campus. The centre aims to conduct advanced research in various aspects related to the Consumer Protection Law; to provide consultancy in consumer protection litigation by involving students, faculty members and practising lawyers; to excel in undertaking empirical research works in the fields of consumer protection; to establish a platform to train the Trainers to magnify the potential of the advocates dealing in Consumer Protection Law; to equip them thoroughly with the laws and the analytical ability to strengthen the functional paradigm of NGOs working and contributing in the area; to provide legal aid to the underprivileged sections of the Indian society to promote awareness in the context; and to render guidance and encouraging 'Public Interest Litigation'. The centre plans to start a Post-Graduate Diploma in Consumer Protection Law and Advocacy to encourage consumer awareness in society and to give impetus to welfare-oriented legislation.

The Seminar

Consumer courts in India, are burdened with lakhs of pending cases and for petty amounts, consumers have to wait for years to get justice. To strengthen and empower consumer rights in India The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 which is considered as a milestone in protecting the rights of consumers has been passed by the parliament. The New Consumer Protection law was given a striking feature with the introduction of Mediation as an ADR mechanism to tackle consumer matters and reduce the number of matters in the various commissions. The National Seminar on Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Consumer Protection in India aims to provide a comprehensive platform for stakeholders to delve into the crucial intersection of consumer rights and effective dispute resolution mechanisms. With the ever-evolving landscape of consumerism and the increasing need for expedient resolution of consumer disputes, exploring ADR methods becomes paramount. This seminar serves as a catalyst for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration among legal experts, policymakers, industry professionals, consumer advocates, and academia. By bringing together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, the seminar endeavours to contribute towards enhancing access to justice, promoting consumer welfare, and fostering a culture of efficient dispute resolution in India.

Sub-Themes

• Overview of Consumer Protection Laws and ADR Mechanisms in India.
• Requirement of Online Mediation for Consumers.
• Role and Appointment of an Unbiased Mediator in the Dispute Resolution.
• Mediation Support Mechanisms under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
• The Future of Mediation for Consumers.
• Process of Mediation Under Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and Its Best Practices.
• Role of Technology in ADR: Opportunities and Challenges.
• Impact Analysis of Mediation under the Consumer Protection Act 2019
• Consumer Empowerment and Awareness in ADR Processes.
• Industry-Specific Perspectives: Case Studies and Best Practices.
• Judicial Role and Enforcement of ADR Awards.
• Future Trends and Innovations in ADR for Consumer Protection.
• Any other topic relating to the Main Theme

Important Dates

• Abstract Submission: 15th March 2024
• Acceptance/Rejection Notification: 20th March 2024
• Last Date of Registration: 5th April 2024
• Final Paper Submission: 5th April 2024

Registration

• Academicians/Professionals: INR 800 + 18% GST
• Students/Researchers: INR 500 + 18% GST
• For any co-authorship: INR 1200 + 18% GST

Paper Submission Guidelines

• Participants shall be required to submit an abstract of around 350 words on or before 15th March 2024.
• The research papers should pertain to the main theme of the Seminar.
• The abstract shall also contain, the name of the author/authors, email ID of the author/s contact number and designation.
• Acceptance of abstracts shall be communicated separately.
• Payment links shall be shared separately if the abstract is selected.
• The full paper shall not exceed 6000 words. It shall be typed in Times New Roman, Font Size 12 on A4 size paper on any of the sub-themes of the conference with a 1” margin on all sides with 1.5 line spacing using MS Word.
• Abstracts and papers shall be required to be emailed to events@rgnul.ac.in.
• Citation shall be strictly as per OSCOLA.
• The university may publish selected papers. Selection of papers for publication shall be the exclusive discretion of the University.

Contact Details

For any queries, please contact: events@rgnul.ac.in.