RGNUL Organises Consultation Program On 'Laws Related To Women In Prisons'

The National Commission of Women, New Delhi, India in collaboration with Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab, Patiala organized a Law Consultation Programme on 'Laws related to Women in Prisons' for the Northwest Region of India, focusing on mainly Five (5) States of India, namely, (i) Punjab; (ii) Himachal Pradesh; (iii) Uttarakhand; (iv) Ladakh; and (v) Jammu & Kashmir, on 5th February 2025.

The event featured twenty-four prominent personalities from Judiciary, Police and Jail Administration, Legal Aid, Legal and Educational Institutions, Medicine, Sports, Juvenile Justice Boards from many states of India. The resource persons included DR. K.P. Singh-former DGP and DG (Prisons) Haryana; Justice Paramjit Singh Dhaliwal-Former Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court; Mr. Mukesh Kumar- Vice Principal, Punjab Jail Training School, Patiala; Dr. Ravjot Grewal (IPS)- SSP, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab; Professor Dr. Sanjay Tewari-Honorary Professor, Russian Academy of Social and Fundamental Sciences, Moscow; Shri Manjinder Singh, Member Secretary, Punjab State Legal Service Authority, Punjab Government; Dr. Gagandeep Kaur- Civil Judge and Secretary, District Legal Aid Authority, Shri Muktsar Sahib; Shri Varun Sharma- Superintendent, Punjab Jail Training School, Patiala; Advocate Sarbjit Singh Verka, District Courts, Patiala; Miss Neena Mishra, Advocate, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh High Court; Professor (Dr.) Savita - Director, Centre for Women Studies, University of Jammu and Kashmir; Professor (Dr.) Devinder Singh, Panjab University, Chandigarh; Professor (Dr.) Anil Kumar, Central University of Himachal Pradesh; Professor (Dr.) Ajay Ranga, Dean, Chitkara Law School; Professor (Dr.) Bindu Jindal, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be) University; Dr. Mandeep Kaur Bal, Gynaecologist and Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, Barnala; Dr. Seema Gupta, Chandigarh University; Dr. Balwinder Kaur, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Law University; Dr. Gautam Sood, Juvenile Justice Board. Patiala; Dr. Ruchi Sapahia, Himachal Pradesh National Law University; Dr. Vaishali Thakur, Panjab University Rego Campus; Dr. Gagan Preet and Dr. Shruti Goyal from RGNUL, Punjab.

A book entitled, "Technology, Media and the 'Youth': Exploring the Context of Sustainable Development and Growth," edited by Dr. Jasleen Kewlani, the Convener of the Law Consultation Programme, was released in the Inaugural function.

The Chief Guest, Manmohan Verma, Law Officer of National Commission for Women, India shared the object of the National Commission for Women, India - the extreme importance the 'institutional collaborations' hold in terms of research, academics and legal amendments aiming at improvement in the lives and living of women prisoners. He also emphasized the role of the Consultation Programmes being held by NCW, in all the geographical zones of India; which can lead to drastic and very functional ameliorations in the laws dealing with women prisoners in different states. The two Guests of Honor in the Inaugural event were Dr. Ravjot Grewal, IPS, SSP Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab and Miss Anjana Bindla, Member, Advisory Board, NCW, India.

The event was attended by RGNUL's Dean (Academics) Professor (Dr.) Naresh Vats; Dean (Research) Professor (Dr.) Kamaljit Kaur; officiating Registrar Dr. Ivneet Walia; Dr. Rachna Sharma, the Co-convenor of the Law Consultation Programme. Around hundred discussants attended the programme as an audience which led to discourse on the laws related to women prisoners. The deliberations have been made by many officials deputed by officers of Chief Secretaries of different states of India.

The Consultation Programme featured four themed academic sessions where experts shared their insights throughout the day. The discussions culminated in a Valedictory Session, where the Research Team presented key recommendations made by the resource persons. These were shared with an audience of over 100 participants.