Law Minister Meghwal emphasized that philanthropy plays a crucial role in promoting social and legal equality through the justice system. To honor the 100th birth centenary of K.K. Luthra, a distinguished Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court and a pioneer in criminal law, a Centre for Comparative Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Studies has been established. This initiative aims to advance research and legal discourse in criminal justice. It reflects Luthra’s enduring legacy in shaping India’s legal landscape.
New Delhi: On the occasion of World Social Justice Day on February 20, the Jindal Global Law School at O.P. Jindal Global University announced the establishment of the K.K. Luthra and Nirmal Luthra Centre for Comparative Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Studies.
This Centre is being founded to honor the 100th birth anniversary of K.K. Luthra, a prominent figure in criminal law and Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India, while also recognizing the contributions of Nirmal Luthra.
During a seminar to commemorate the event, Union Law Minister Arun Ram Meghwal stated,
“This is an occasion to be a champion for social justice. If injustice continues, there will be no peace in society, and we need to fight this. India, through its leaders like Mahatma Phule and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, had champions of social justice. Experts have pointed out how there can be political equality, but achieving social and economic equality is challenging. This can only be accomplished through philanthropy.”
The Centre was established with a fully equipped fund to ensure its long-term sustainability. This fund was created by Siddharth Luthra, a distinguished senior advocate, along with his sisters Geeta Luthra, a Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court of India, and Dr. Meera Luthra, a Senior Consultant in Paediatric Surgery, as a philanthropic initiative to honor their parents’ legacy.
It aims to serve as a global hub for interdisciplinary research, dialogue, and advocacy in criminal law and justice, fostering excellence in research, education, advocacy, and reform.
The Centre’s mission is to emerge as a global leader in comparative criminal law and justice, promoting fair and effective legal systems worldwide and advancing legal scholarship, policy innovation, and practical reforms through rigorous research, education, and public engagement.
Sidharth Luthra, the son of the legendary K.K. Luthra, mentioned,
“The flagship activities and initiatives will include the establishment of the annual K.K. Luthra & Nirmal Luthra Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals for Academic Excellence at Jindal Global Law, conducting an International Conference on Comparative Criminal Law, developing actionable recommendations for policy and law reform advocacy, enabling comparative research studies through the KK Luthra & Nirmal Luthra Chair in Criminal Law & Criminal Justice, and assisting with capacity-building workshops for legal professionals. We will also establish postgraduate and doctoral research fellowships and create a K.K. Luthra Legacy Series, which includes publications and a digital repository along with public engagement programs to enhance understanding of criminal justice issues.”
Raj Kumar, the Founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University and Dean of Jindal Global Law School, expressed,
“We are delighted that such a distinguished Centre of study is being established at JGU. It will promote high-quality research and knowledge creation in comparative criminal law and justice systems; foster academic and practitioner dialogue on contemporary challenges; encourage law reform initiatives for fair and effective justice delivery; and create a repository of knowledge on global best practices. The Centre will celebrate the legacy of K.K. Luthra and Nirmal Luthra by fostering values of integrity, fairness, and justice in criminal law practice. I extend my deep gratitude to Mr. Sidharth Luthra, Ms. Geeta Luthra, Dr. Meera Luthra, and Ms. Ketaki Goswami for their generous endowment to help establish this pioneering Centre.”
The establishment of this Centre gathered global attention, including accolades from esteemed scholars at the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and other leading institutions.
Professor (Dr.) Nicola Padfield, Emeritus Professor of Criminal & Penal Justice at the University of Cambridge, remarked,
“A new Centre dedicated to research and scholarship in the field of comparative criminal law and criminal justice is great news… I congratulate Mr. Sidharth Luthra on his wonderful vision and generosity, and I commend the University on its good fortune in developing the Centre.”
Professor (Dr.) Julian Roberts, Emeritus Professor of Criminology at the University of Oxford, noted,
“The newly created K.K. Luthra & Nirmal Luthra Centre on Comparative Criminal Law & Criminal Justice Studies at O.P. Jindal Global University represents a timely and important step in the evolution of criminal justice scholarship. Located at one of India’s leading universities, it will become a valuable hub for comparative research benefiting many jurisdictions.”
The Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University, Mr. Naveen Jindal, also attended the occasion.