DNLU Hosts 1st SLJ Justice S L Kochar Symposium 2025

Jabalpur, March 9, 2025 : The Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur, successfully hosted the inaugural SLJ Justice S.L. Kochar Symposium 2025 on March 8-9, 2025, in collaboration with Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India. The symposium, organized under the leadership of Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Kumar Sinha, Vice Chancellor, and Dr. Praveen Tripathi, Registrar, brought together esteemed legal professionals, academicians, and students to engage in thought-provoking discussions on the theme of “Dispute Resolution.”

The two-day event was aimed at fostering critical discourse on the evolving landscape of arbitration, mediation, and conciliation, while providing a platform for legal research and scholarly engagement. The symposium also served to highlight the increasing significance of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms in the contemporary legal ecosystem.

The valedictory ceremony, held on March 9, 2025, was graced by distinguished dignitaries, including Shri Justice S.L. Kochar, Judge (Retd.), Madhya Pradesh High Court, Hon’ble Shri Justice Vivek Agarwal, Judge, Madhya Pradesh High Court, and Prof. Manoj Kumar Sinha, Vice Chancellor, DNLU. Also in attendance were Dr. Praveen Tripathi, Registrar, Mr. Sankalp Kochar, Advocate High Court of M.P., and Mr. Siddhant Kochar, Advocate High Court of M.P. The dignitaries commended the initiative and praised DNLU’s commitment to legal research and discourse, urging students to engage in research and training related to dispute resolution to better understand ADR mechanisms.

The symposium commenced on March 8, 2025, with distinguished speakers, including Shri Sankalp Kochar, Advocate, High Court of M.P., Shri Rajeev Rambhatla, Partner at Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India, Dr. Ashit Srivastava, Assistant Professor at DNLU, and Dr. Praveen Tripathi, Registrar at DNLU. The event featured a stellar lineup of speakers from Luthra and Luthra Law Offices (Hyderabad) including Ms. Pooja Sirnapelly, Managing Associate; Ms. Aditi Karra, Associate; and Mr. Jayaram Garapati, Associate.

The symposium focused on the growing importance of ADR mechanisms in addressing legal conflicts efficiently. The speakers emphasized the need for young legal professionals to gain expertise in arbitration and mediation, especially as these methods become more widely used in both national and international commercial disputes.

One of the key highlights of the symposium was the paper presentation sessions, where students and young scholars presented their research on various aspects of dispute resolution. These sessions covered a wide range of sub-themes, such as Arbitration in Cross-Border Business Disputes, Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), Mediation in Employment Disputes, and Intellectual Property Disputes in the Digital Age.

The winners of the paper presentation sessions were:

• First Prize: Mr. Vasujit Dubey and Ms. Poorva Sharma (DNLU)
• Second Prize: Ms. Anenya, Ms. Sejal Sahu, Mr. Yash Sharan (Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur)
• Third Prize: Mr. Anshumaan Rakshit (DNLU)

The symposium set a new benchmark for academic events at DNLU, reaffirming the university’s dedication to advancing legal scholarship and facilitating dialogue on contemporary legal challenges. With intellectually stimulating discussions and expert insights, the event was a resounding success.

The event was undertaken under the mentorship of Dr. Ashit K. Srivastava, Director of Student Law Journal at DNLU, and Shri Utkarsh K. Mishra, Assistant Professor of Law, with contributions from Shri Sheel Bhadra Yadav, Assistant Librarian.

The 1st SLJ Justice S.L. Kochar Symposium marks the beginning of a long-standing tradition of excellence in legal research and academic engagement at DNLU.