MNLU Mumbai Hosts Landmark International Conference on Transformative Constitutionalism Featuring Supreme Court Justices

The Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) Mumbai recently convened an ambitious international conference focused on the evolving landscape of transformative constitutionalism, drawing a prestigious assembly of legal luminaries and scholars. The inaugural session commenced with a welcome address by Prof. (Dr.) Prakash Chaudhary, Registrar of MNLU Mumbai, setting the stage for a profound exploration of modern jurisprudence. Prof. (Dr.) Kokila Konasinghe, Head of the Department of Public and International Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, delivered a compelling keynote address that examined comparative perspectives on transformative constitutionalism across the nations of India, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. This was followed by a presidential address from Prof. (Dr.) Dilip Ukey, Vice-Chancellor of MNLU Mumbai, who dissected the evolution of constitutional frameworks in various jurisdictions as a direct response to shifting socio-political realities.

Elevating the discourse to the highest judicial levels, Justice Augustine George Masih, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, served as Guest of Honour, where he characterized constitutionalism as an essential safeguard against the exercise of arbitrary power and underscored the vital importance of fundamental duties. The Chief Guest, Justice Pankaj Mithal, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, provided a profound philosophical bridge by drawing parallels between the ancient concept of Dharma and the modern Constitution, asserting that the latter serves as the contemporary embodiment of duty, the rule of law, and the protection of the people. In a notable side event, Dr. Veerappa Moily’s 'Bharatiya Nyaya Shastra' was launched at Jindal Global Law School, further enriching the academic atmosphere surrounding the gathering.

The logistical and academic scale of the event was extensive, with the conference receiving 228 abstracts and hosting approximately 172 presenters, including 40 professionals. Operating in a hybrid mode, the event bridged geographical gaps to include participants from National Law Universities, O.P. Jindal Global University, Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University, Indian Law Institute (New Delhi), South Asian University (New Delhi), Government Law College (Ernakulam), Assam University (Silchar), and V.M. Salgaocar College. Expert evaluators from India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal presided over technical sessions that scrutinized themes such as comparative constitutionalism, judicial review, environmental constitutionalism, and the critical role of courts in driving transformative change.

The proceedings were meticulously organized by Dr. Sampada Kangane, Director of CRPLPJ, and Dr. Sayalee Surjuse, Assistant Professor at MNLU Mumbai, with Live Law serving as the official media partner. Following a second day of intensive parallel technical sessions and rigorous academic deliberations, the event reached its conclusion on April 19, 2026. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Pratapsinh Salunke, Officer on Special Duty to the Vice-Chancellor and Associate Dean (Academics) at MNLU Mumbai. This valedictory session marked the end of a significant intellectual endeavor that successfully unified international legal perspectives, reinforcing the Constitution's role as a living document capable of steering society toward justice and equity.a