“My Main Goal Will Be To Advance Empirical Research”

What motivated you to pursue academics in law? How has your journey been?

I pursued the study of interdisciplinary law mainly because this field offers both intellectual satisfaction and a pragmatic attainment for the cause of social and political justice.  It serves as the backbone of our civilisation, providing a framework for justice, order and protection for individuals and communities. It addresses a wide range of issues, ensuring fairness, equality and accountability. As societal norms, values and challenges evolve, the law adapts, making it a dynamic and ever-relevant field. Being passionate about the intersection of law and society, I was drawn to the opportunity to contribute to positive change, uphold justice and make a meaningful impact on people's lives. Moreover, as our world becomes increasingly interconnected and complex, the significance and influence of law will only continue to grow, making it an exciting and fulfilling choice to dedicate my life to. My journey till now has been filled with diverse experiences and notable achievements.

What is your vision for NLU Delhi?

NLU Delhi has a distinguished history of high-quality research, publications and international collaborations. My main goal will be to advance empirical research, broaden research fields and promote national and international collaboration. In terms of curriculum, I want to make it more interdisciplinary and in line with the National Education Policy 2020 and its guiding principles. Another priority is to change legal pedagogy and improve engagement with all parties.

What are your plans to make NLU Delhi the best legal institution and reach the heights in terms of NAAC and NIRF rankings?

Several new programmes and initiatives have been launched to boost research in the university, with a particular emphasis on expanding and diversifying the publication profile. We have increased our PhD student intake and will provide them with the best facilities, resources and guidance to help them with their research. We recently expanded our PhD topics to include a broader range of topics and launched programmes in Social Sciences to promote the university's interdisciplinary research exposure. We are attempting to form partnerships with foreign and other universities in order to offer special joint programmes.

What are your views on the advent of artificial intelligence in legal academia? How do you plan to utilise artificial intelligence in NLUD?

AI-based tools are extremely useful and powerful and it is up to us to use them wisely. Academia, particularly in the legal field, differs from other fields of work since at the core is research, analysis and writing. When an experienced researcher makes an argument, they draw on their extensive knowledge and experience in the field, which they have gained over time. It will be extremely difficult and detrimental to replace these with machines that lack the human touch. The law does not exist in a vacuum; it is inextricably linked to society and human beings, which necessitates understanding it from a human perspective. 

NLU Delhi has already taken steps and reforms to adapt to AI, such as changing our academic regulations, pedagogy and research. We now consider submitting AI-generated work as your own to be an unfair means and plagiarism detection software has been updated to reflect the percentage of AI-generated work as well.

Is ChatGPT a threat to academic writing and integrity?

ChatGPT and other similar platforms have increasingly gained relevance and also attracted the ire of many for valid reasons. People have taken advantage of the power by giving commands that lead to responses that are structured and seem full of information. Students are using this as a way to get out of doing their academic research and writing projects. They just type in their questions and copy the answers that AI gives them. This goes against the objective of an assignment, which is to get students to learn more about a topic and help them come up with answers by understanding the main ideas. 

What reforms are required in legal education to make students future-ready?

It is often said that we cannot have a future if we do not think about it. We must be prepared for the fast-paced shifts that are taking place around the world in the legal field as well as its employment opportunities. There is a constant need to improve and expand the curriculum while also providing niche elective courses so that students can learn in a field of their particular interest. Our students should have a strong fundamental understanding of the field, allowing them to pivot as needed in a dynamic world. Collaborative learning across institutions and disciplines is required to facilitate such opportunities, as the exposure gained and connections formed are lifelong assets. 

What would be your one advice to law students?

My advice would be to study the fundamentals of law, foundational concepts and classic legal books and gain practical knowledge in this field. It is critical to learn and improve legal research, analysis and writing skills. This can be accomplished by becoming familiar with the various legal databases, research tools and methodologies. Once a student has a firm grasp on these, they will be able to soar to great heights in the future.