Established in 1977, Symbiosis Law School has achieved various milestones in teaching, learning and research. It is the first law college in Pune to offer evening law programs and is one of the pioneers of the five-year law program. SLS Pune innovative and creative educational experiments have set it apart from other law colleges in the city and the region.

Inauguration of Pro Bono Club, Symbiosis Law School, Pune, and Capacity Building Training Session for 160 Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs)

Symbiosis Law School, Pune

Date: May 13, 2022

Symbiosis Law School, Pune, a constituent of Symbiosis International (Deemed University) organized the inaugural ceremony of the Pro Bono Club of SLS-P as part of the Nyaya Bandhu Scheme, Department of Justice, Government of India on 4th May 2022 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the PDCLE Hall. Subsequent to the Inauguration, a training session and capacity building for Para-legal volunteers (PLVs), DLSA, Pune was held. The Club aims to create legal awareness literacy among the marginalised members of the society in collaborations with NGOs, conducting legal aid camps/clinics, providing legal consultancy and legal aid services to beneficiaries, and assisting Pro Bono Advocates registered under the Nyaya Bandhu platform among several other activities. 

The session began with a ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the faculty and esteemed dignitaries. Dr. Shashikala Gurpur, Director, SLS-P, Dean Faculty of Law, SI(DU), Fulbright Scholar and Jean Monnet Chair Professor (EUC-LAMP co-funded by EU) applauded the efforts of Adv. Sangramjeet Chavan, Mr. Pratap Sawant and Adv. Deshmukh helped bring this event to fruition. Mentioning that “Injustice would leave a bleeding wound to humanity,”. Dr. Gurpur elucidated that Symbiosis Law School, Pune will be the first private law school from the State of Maharashtra and the only one in Pune to have been nominated among 29 law schools to house the Pro Bono Club under the Nyaya Bandhu Scheme of Department of Justice, Govt. of India. 

After the felicitation of the dignitaries, Ms. Mahima Khera, Program Consultant, Representative of Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India provided an ‘Overview of Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Approach to Access to Justice (DISHA)’ as well as their work in the past few years. She extensively discussed the DISHA scheme and particularly focussed on the four primary verticals i.e., Tele- Law, NYAYA BANDHU, NYAYA MITRA, Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programmes. Dr. Shirish Kulkarni, Assistant Professor, Symbiosis Law School, Pune, elaborated the objectives of the Community and Legal Care Centre, a constituent of Symbiosis Law School, Pune. Ms. Asha Singh, Convenor, Symbiosis Law School, Pune further highlighted the achievements of the Community Legal Care and Literacy Cell in the past academic years. Various aspects from the establishment of a legal aid clinic at Sus Gaon and Yerawada Central Prison, Pune to the E-SHRAM card and the Barefoot Lawyering Programme in association with Ashta No Kai- For a better tomorrow were discussed. 

A short award ceremony was conducted, where Mr. Rajesh Oswal, Director, Pushpak Steel Industries Pvt. Ltd. and Mr. Sanket Shah, Founder President, Divine Jain Group Trust, Pune awarded the Divine Ratna Awards 2022– by Divine Jain Group Trust, Pune to Dr. Shashikala Gurpur, Director, SLS-P, Dean Faculty of Law, SI(DU), Fulbright Scholar and Jean Monnet Chair Professor (EUC-LAMP co-funded by EU), Mr. Sanjay Deshmukh, Principal District Judge, Pune Chairman, District Legal Services Authority Pune and Mr. Pratap Sawant, Secretary, Pune District Legal Services Authority for their philanthropic deeds and exceptional contribution to the society.

Mr. Sanjay Deshmukh, Chief Guest, Principal District Judge, Pune Chairman, District Legal Services Authority Pune in his inaugural address shared his insights about the world of jurisprudence, and the need to be informed, knowledgeable and confident in the present world. He further guided the students in mastering and tackling issues in their early years, and motivated them to remember the importance of being a lawyer. 

After the Inaugural Ceremony successfully ended, the Capacity Building Training Session for 160 Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs) commenced. At the outset, Mr. Pratap Sawant, Secretary, Pune District Legal Services Authority provided a brief overview of the purpose of PLVs. A video was presented on the Nyaya Bandhu App on behalf of the Department of Justice. In the first session, Advocate Rhishikesh Ganu, Senior Advocate with District and Session Court, Pune deliberated on the PLV Scheme of NALSA. He also shared the objectives of the scheme and expectations from a PLV. 

Advocate Yashpal Purohit, Empaneled Advocate with District Legal Service Authority, Pune conducted a second session on Overall Structure of Para Legal Work where he opined on the importance of PLV assistance to lawyers, jail inmates, police, and other authorities and a brief insight into the kind of work that will be delegated to PLVs. He further elucidated on the role played by volunteers in looking into the plight of the ailing parents of inmates and the education of their children. He urged students to work towards charity and the welfare of the children and their education. Sessions 1 and 2 concluded with the Question & Answer sessions with enthusiastic participation from the student fraternity. 

Symbiosis Law School awarded the prestigious Jean Monnet Chair in EU Climate Justice Law by the European Union

SLS Pune

Date: April 7, 2022

Symbiosis Law School, Pune under the aegis of Symbiosis International (Deemed University) (SIU) home to the topmost legal minds of the country, has been bestowed with the honour of the prestigious Jean Monnet Chair on EU Climate Justice Law, Governance, Management and Policy (EUC-LAMP) under the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union with a total grant of Euro 50000 from 2022-2025.

On behalf of SIU, Prof. Dr. Shashikala Gurpur, Fulbright Scholar, Director, Symbiosis Law School, Pune, Dean, Faculty of Law, Symbiosis International (Deemed University) will be the Jean Monnet Chair Professor funded by the European Union.

What makes the achievement even more unique and remarkable is that this is the 1st Jean Monnet Chair granted in Pune and Western India, the 1st Jean Monnet Chair in India in Law to be chaired by a woman and only the 2nd Jean Monnet Chair in India in the field of law.

Dr. Shashikala Gurpur has a proven track record and vast experience in the field of International Law, Environmental Law, European Union Law, Human Rights, International Environmental Law Climate Change, Biotechnology, Biodiversity etc. She has worked extensively on policy-related issues and has provided recommendations on varied policy matters including the environment during her stint with the Law Commission of India and other prestigious government bodies.

Further, she has also been acknowledged for her immense contribution in the field of legal education, gender sensitization and community outreach programmes. This was duly acknowledged by the Government of Karnataka, India which conferred her with the prestigious Annual Kittur Rani Chennamma Award in 2018 for her work towards the empowerment of women.

The Jean Monnet Chair is a recognition of over a decade long experience at Symbiosis Law School, Pune under SIU in European Studies by way of Erasmus Mundus and Erasmus+ Projects, Student Exchange Programmes, Masters Level Specialization, Certificate Programmes etc.

Climate Change is currently the most urgent and profoundly complex environment-related problem for the international community. Recognizing the importance of climate change and its impact in various aspects like food security, energy security, water security, health, migration and conflict, the central and state governments in India have made climate change a focal area. A number of major developments have taken place in India in order to centre stage the need for combating climate change-related adversities.

The proposed chair will be focused on reaching out to a wider community of youth, i.e. students, students, academics, NGOs, policymakers, think tanks, industry leaders, the youth of urban, semi-urban and rural communities with regard to imparting climate change-related courses, certificate programme and specialized workshops. 

The main target groups of the JM Chair will be Students, Teachers and Educational administrators not yet recipients of JM funding and interested in specific EU studies related subjects.

Symbiosis Law School Pune has developed a one of its kind in the country Jean Monnet Symbiosis Centre for Climate Justice Law, Governance, Management and Policy which is a part of the “EU Learning Resource Centre” established at Symbiosis Law School, Pune. This excellence centre will contain specialised equipment, books, and online learning resource centre, a legal database, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) which will help improve the quality of research and community engagements. 

Thus the Jean Monnet Chair will play a pivotal role in climate change mitigation measures undertaken in India, complementing and adding to the Indian national policymaking.