Late Nani Palkhivala First Memorial Lecture at MNLU Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Highlights Technology, Privacy and Constitutional Justice
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar |
Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, organised the Late Nani Palkhivala First Memorial Lecture on “Navigating Challenges of the 21st Century and Constitutional Limits of Courts” at the university campus on Saturday. The event brought together eminent judges, jurists, members of the Bar, faculty and students to deliberate on the evolving challenges faced by constitutional courts in the digital age.
The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Joymalya Bagchi, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The programme was presided over by the Hon’ble Mr. Justice Prasanna B. Varale, Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Chancellor of MNLU. The event was further honoured by the presence of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Santosh G. Chapalgaonkar of the Bombay High Court, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Abhay S. Oka, Emeritus Jurist, along with several sitting and former judges of the Bombay High Court at Aurangabad and members of the University’s General Council.
The programme commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and garlanding of the portrait of Late Shri Nani Palkhivala, paying tribute to one of India’s most distinguished constitutional lawyers. The dignitaries were formally felicitated on the dais.
In her welcome address, Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Bindu S. Ronald emphasised the enduring relevance of Nani Palkhivala’s constitutional philosophy and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to promoting constitutional values through academic excellence and public discourse. She also acknowledged that the Memorial Lecture Series has been instituted through an endowment fund generously contributed by Justice Abhay S. Oka, reflecting his deep commitment to constitutionalism and legal education.
A key highlight of the programme was the release of the booklet of the Late Hon’ble Justice M. L. Pendse Memorial Lecture Series (2024–25) by the Chief Guest, Justice Joymalya Bagchi. This was followed by the release of the book “Judicial Process and Transformative Justice”, authored by Registrar Prof. (Dr.) Dhanaji M. Jadhav and published by Thomson Reuters, which examines the judiciary’s role in advancing transformative constitutionalism and access to justice.
Prof. A. Lakshminath, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, spoke on the unparalleled contribution of Nani Palkhivala to Indian constitutional jurisprudence, recalling his intellectual depth, moral courage and unwavering commitment to civil liberties.
In his special address, Justice Abhay S. Oka reflected on the rising expectations from the judiciary in the 21st century and reiterated the judiciary’s role as the ultimate guardian of fundamental rights, recalling constitutional scholar H. M. Seervai’s observations on the necessity of judicial protection.
Delivering the memorial lecture, Justice Joymalya Bagchi identified technological advancement as one of the most pressing challenges of the modern era. He raised concerns over privacy, algorithmic decision-making, “black box” technologies and the commodification of individuals through data. Cautioning against the erosion of human values, he underscored that technology must remain a tool to assist justice and not replace human judgment.
Justice Bagchi elaborated on issues such as algorithmic justice, cybercrime liability, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, and comparative perspectives from European Union law. Referring to initiatives like SUPACE, he clarified that judicial technology is designed to assist judges without undermining the human element of adjudication.
He further emphasised the need for future preparedness by strengthening legal education, introducing interdisciplinary subjects such as AI and Law, Biotechnology and Data Science, and equipping legal professionals with the skills required to responsibly understand and use emerging technologies.
The lecture was followed by an interactive question-and-answer session with students and faculty. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Registrar Prof. (Dr.) Dhanaji M. Jadhav, marking the successful conclusion of a thought-provoking memorial lecture honouring the legacy of Nani Palkhivala.
