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GLS hosts an International Conference on “Contemporary Issues and Challenges of
Human Rights in the Era of Globalization”
Background :
Protection as well as effective implementation of Human Rights is a global issue
and almost every country is facing challenges in enshrining Human Rights to their
citizens. With this background, Gujarat Law Society, one of the premier Educational
Institutions of the Western India managing three law college has decided to organize
an International Conference on this burning subject of Human Rights. There was an
unprecedented response to the conference from the day on which the details were
displayed on the website of the GLS and law colleges of GLS. Looking to the request
from number of delegates throughout the country, we have extended the date of registration.
Even after the expiry of the extended date there were number of requests from law
students and teachers for the registration. Considering such requests our Executive
Vice President Shri SudhirbhaiNanavati also permitted the students and teachers
to attend the Inauguration Ceremony who could not get themselves registered in time.
August 1, 2014 :
On first august 2014 evening Gujarat Law Society organized a cultural programme
of the traditional Gujarati dance –Garba and Raas, tribal folk dance and other entertaining
presentations from the students of various educational institutions of the Gujarat
Law Society. All the delegates enjoyed and appreciated the cultural evening.
August 2, 2014 :
Inauguration Ceremony :
On 2nd August the conference started with inaugural ceremony at Gujarat University
Convention Hall. The dignitaries presided on the dais were Hon’bleMr. Justice A.
R. Dave, Judge, Supreme Court of India, Hon’bleMr. Justice M. S. Shah, Chief Justice,
High Court of Bombay, Hon’bleMr. Justice C. K. Thakkar, former Judge, Supreme Court
of India, Shri DevangNanavati, Hon. Secretary, GLS, Prof.Dr.KrystainComplak, University
of Wroklaw, Poland, Dr. S. Shanthakumar, Director, ITMU Law School, New Delhi and
Dr.Eadoin O’Brien, University of Essex, UK were present with Mr.DevangNanavati,
Advocate and Hon. Secretary of Gujarat Law Society. Dr. M. N. Patel, Vice Chancellor
of the Gujarat University was invited as the Special Guest at the Inauguration Ceremony.
Judges and former judges of the High Court of Gujarat and other courts and tribunals,
advocates, all the participants from various parts of the country, Hon’bleMr. Justice
R. R. Tripathi,, Hon’bleMr. Justice M. R. Shah, Hon’bleMs. Justice S. J. Gokani,
Hon’bleDr. Justice K. J. Thakarand Hon’bleMr. Justice R. P. Dholaria have graced
the Ceremony with their presence. Other dignitaries like Shri S. N. Shelat, Senior
Advocate and former Advocate General, High Court of Gujarat, Shri P. K. Jani, Additional
Advocate General, High Court of Gujarat and Shri PareshJani, Advocate and Solicitor,
Principals and Heads of the affiliated colleges of the Gujarat University and other
university, Research scholars and law students of all the law colleges affiliated
to the Gujarat University remained present at the Inauguration Ceremony.
At the inauguration Ceremony after welcoming the dignitaries there was a formal
release of the Souvenir prepared by the Organizing Committee comprising of the extract
of 200 research papers received from the delegate professors and delegate research
students. Principal Dr.Rushikesh Mehta by welcoming the invitees on behalf of the
Gujarat Law Society appraised about the idea and purpose of choosing the title of
the International Conference. He clarified that since the Human Rights are universal
and eternal, available to all the human beings irrespective of caste, race, religion
and nationality; the issues and challenges relating to effective enforcement, implementation
and protection of Human Rights are common in each country. In the era of globalization
it is a need of time to have an international conference on the above mentioned
theme to find out the solutions of the common issues and challenges of Human Rights.
Shri DevangNanavati, Advocate and Honorary Secretary of Gujarat Law Society in his
speech exhaustively dealt with thetheme and highlighted the important issues and
challenges of Human Rights are at the national as well as international level including
the issues of pollution, global warming and also the incidents military actions
taken by Israel, blowing of Aircraft of Malaysia etc. According to him no mercy
should be shown towards the terrorists who are responsible for the mass violation
of Human Rights.Mr.DevangNanavati also reminded about the issues of terrorism of
Punjab and appreciated the actions taken by Punjab Police against terrorist activities.
He further added that in the name of so called violations of Human Rights by Punjab
Police PILs were initiated before the courtswhich affected the moral of brave Police
Officers. While concluding his speech Mr.Nanavati said that there has to be a balance
between enshrining of Human Rights and unity and integrity of the nation as well
as administration of the Government Policies.Hon’bleMr.Justice C. K. Thakkar, former
Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Guest of Honour at the Inauguration Ceremony
gave the birds’ eye view about Human Rights and Justice Delivery System. Hon’bleMr.
Justice C. K. Thakkar, appraised the gathering about the importance of Human Rights
and Contribution of the Judiciary in meeting with the challenges.Hon’bleMr. Justice
M. S. Shah, Chief Justice of the High Court of Bombay, while speaking on the occasion
emphasised upon the global importance of Human Rights and also talked about the
hurdles in implementation of human rights by the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary.
Justice Shah also tried to explain how judiciary can protect and enforce Human Rights
of common man. He gave an example of a case wherein High Court had to intervene
in case of excessive high price of Life Saving Medicines by certain Pharmaceutical
Companies. He dealt with the human rights of patients vis-à-vis grant of patent
to pharmaceutical companies. Hon’bleMr. Justice A. R. Dave, Judge, Supreme Court
of India and the Chief Guest of the function shared his memory as a law student
of the Gujarat Law Society and his experiences as a visiting faculty of Sir L. A.
Shah Law College. Justice Dave also gave his views about the theme of the conference.
Justice Dave put more emphasis on our ancient traditions, religion and culture.
He said that in the holy books like Mahabharata and Geeta it is exhaustively described
how to respect the human rights of others. Justice Dave added with a remark that
if we adopt our old culture and digest the messages and commandments given in above
holy books, probably there would be no need to have conferences about “Issues and
Challenges of Human Rights”. Finally, Justice Dave congratulated the organizers
for organizing International Conference on the vital issue.The ceremony was concluded
with the vote of thanks delivered by Dr. L. S. Pathak.
Technical Session : Human Rights and Trans-National Justice – Dr.Edaoin O’Brien :
Second technical session started after lunch at the auditorium of Gujarat Law Society
wherein Dr.Eadaoin O’Brien, Director of Undergraduate Studies and Lecturer of Human
Rights, University of Essex, UK expressed her views as a plenary speaker on the
title “Human Rights and Trans National Justice”. Dr. O’Brien during her speech talked
about the issues relating to Genocide, International Criminal Trial Proceedings,
and problems of collection of evidences for the International Criminal Trials. Dr.
O’Brien exhaustively discussed about the use of Forensic Science in gathering evidences
in International Criminal Trial. She added that since Forensic Evidence in such
trials are not 100 % accurate evidence, other corroborative evidences should be
taken into consideration during such trials. Dr. O’Brien gave illustrations of violation
of Human Rights in Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Finally she concluded her address with
the remarks that in the cases International Criminal Trials relating to mass violation
of Human Rights forensic science should be used in collecting evidences. Dr. O’Brien
thereafter responded to the questions raised from the participants.
Technical Session :Enforcement of Human Rights at National and International Level
: Challenges of Executive, Legislature and Judiciary – Dr. S. Shanthakumar
Third Technical Session of the first day was engaged by plenary speaker of the ConferenceDr.
S. Shanthakumar, Director, ITMU Law School, New Delhi on a sub-theme “Enforcement
of Human Rights at National and International Level : Challenges of Executive, Legislature
and Judiciary”. Dr.Shanthakumar tried to point out to the participants about the
lacuna in the definition of “Human Rights” under the Protection of Human Rights
Act, 1993. Definition of “Human Rights” needs to be amended in order to effectively
enshrine the Human Rights to the citizens of India. Dr.Shanthakumar during his speech
raised number of issues about the provisions of the Protection of Human Rights Act,
1993.
Technical Session :The Polish Constitution Emergency Regulation has a sense in times
of Human Rights ? – Prof.Dr. Hab. KrystainComplak
In Forth Technical Session Prof.Dr.KrystainComplak, University of Wroclaw, Poland
while speaking as a plenary speaker on the theme “The Polish Constitution Emergency
Regulation has a sense in times of Human Rights ?” Dr.Complak while speaking on
the subject pointed out that emergency provisions of every Constitution or legislation
restricts or curtails the Human Rights and there has to be a balance between security
and integrity of nation and granting of human rights. Dr.Complak discussed the issues
relating to the Human Rights in case of Euthanasia and problems relating to elimination
of Death Sentence from penal system of any country. Dr.Complak also explained that
in order to effectively implement the Human Rights in any country, first of all
the country should find out the challenges and threats to the Human Rights before
them. The challenges of Human Rights may vary from country to country. After having
focused on the challenges, country should find out the possible solutions and collectively
work upon it.
August 3, 2014 :
Parallel Paper Presentation Sessions :
On the second day of the International Conference i.e. on 3rd August 2014, there
were first two sessions for the paper presentation from the delegate Professors
and delegate research students. In each sessions, five parallel tracks were arranged.
Total 200 participants presented their research papers in 10 different tracks wherein
20 legal luminaries contributed as Chairpersons at the sessions. The experts contributed
as Chairpersons were Dr. O’Brien, Dr.Complak, Dr.Shanthakumar, Prof.Dr.Yogesh Mehta,
former Vice Chancellor, Saurashtra University and former Director, Institute of
Law, Nirma University, Dr.JyotsnabenYagnik, former City and Sessions Judge, Rakshaben
Desai, former Principal, Sir L. A. Shah Law College, Shri Manoj Upadhyay, former
Principal, AMP Law College, Dr.PurviPokhariyal, Director, Institute of Law, Nirma
University and other renowned advocates and academicians.
Technical Session :Human Rights and Justice Delivery System – Hon’bleMr. Justice
C. K. Thakkar :
The post lunch technical session was engaged by Hon’bleMr. Justice C. K. Thakkar,
former Judge, Supreme Court of India titled “Human Rights and Justice Delivery System”.
Justice Thakkar while speaking on the subject narrated about the provisions enshrined
under the Constitution about the protection and enforcement of Human Rights (known
as fundamental rights under the Constitution of India). The extra-ordinary provisions
of Writ Remedies provided under Article 32 before the Supreme Court and Article
226 before High Courts were discussed by Justice Thakkar. He also demonstrated by
highlighting different landmarking cases of the Supreme Court of India the efforts
of judiciary in protection of Human Rights. Justice Thakkar also talked about the
appreciation of Lord Denning about the development of compensatory jurisprudence
in writ jurisdiction by the Indian Courts, which was not recognized by the British
Courts. Justice Thakkar while answering the questions commented that “Human Rights”
should not be bounded by giving definitions.
Valedictory Function :
The last session was Valedictory Session wherein Dr. M. N. Patel, Vice Chancellor
was the Chief Guest and Hon’bleMr. Justice C. K. Thakkar presided as the Guest of
Honour. Executive Vice President Shri SudhirNanavati, Conveners of the Conference
Dr. R. V. Mehta, Dr. L. S. Pathak and Ms.Chandani Kapadia as well as Organizing
Secretary Dr.Mayuri Pandya share the dais with the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour.
After formal welcome by Dr. L. S. Pathak, the summary of entire conference was given
by Prin. Dr. R. V. Mehta.
The best papers from each of the five sub-themes were selected by the committee
out of 200 papers and the authors were given certificates for preparing best papers.
There was an overwhelming response from the participants. They appreciated about
the hospitality, theme of the conference, management and warm response from all
the principals, professors and law students. The participants also assured Gujarat
Law Society to organize such a qualitative Conference again in future.
Hon’bleMr.Justice C. K. Thakkar while speaking as the Guest of Honour gave the message
to all the participants to continuously be in touch with the changing laws and judgments
by developing the habit of reading. Dr. M. N. Patel, Vice Chancellor of the Gujarat
University and the Chief Guest of the Valedictory Function at the International
Conference touched some major issues of Human Rights regarding the food security
and other human rights aspects.
Shri SudhirNanavati, Executive Vice President of the Gujarat Law Society while speaking
on the occasion expressed said that it is necessary for every student to participate
at such type of Conferences and have interaction with the experts. Over and above
the class-room teaching, learning through seminars and conferences is a need of
time. He assured the participants to orginaze such international conference even
in future at the regular interval by the Gujarat Law Society. The conference ended
with the vote of thanks rendered by Dr.Mayuri Pandya, the Organizing Secretary of
the Conference.
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