Recently, Parul University hosted its second iteration of Samvidhan Pe Charcha, bringing together over 15 of the country's brightest legal minds, including High Court and Supreme Court Judges, senior advocates, Advocates on Record, as well as judicial officers. The fest was designed to create an opportunity for the aspiring advocates immersed in either one of the plenary sessions or, clinical skill oriented workshops to participate in meaningful engagement around contemporary legal issues including women's rights, the prevention of money laundering act, circularism, arbitration and ADR, uniform civil code among many others of legal significance. This year's fest was truly an outstanding gathering of legal luminaries who made the environment of discussion utterly lively and engaged with the various specialties and knowledge that they brought.
As part of the eminent guest speakers in attendance, Samvidhan Pe Charcha featured legal luminaries such as retired justices, Justice M.R Shah, Justice Ashutosh Shastri, Justice Ravi Tripathi and Justice A. J Desai, and prominent senior advocates including, Snr Advocate Meenakshi Arora, Snr Advocate Siddhartha Dave, Snr Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, Snr Advocate Satyajeet Desai. These prominent legal minds elated the participating students, providing them a unique opportunity to sharpen their legal acumen but diving into various legal discourses. As a significant highlight of the event. Dr. Mamta Agarwal, Additional Secretary, Youth Affairs Division, AIU, as the keynote speaker of the event, shared her insights and impact on the subject of “The role of youth and social activism in influencing policy and legal reforms in India”.
Additionally, this national level law festival also featured some of the most prominent advocates-on-record including AOR Pallavi Pratap sharing on petition drafting and essentials AOR Malak Bhatt on decoding careers in the niche areas of law, AOR Pragya Singh speaking on the essential business competencies for advocates, AOR Gaurav Goel talking on the interpretation of statutes, AOR Amit Pai speaking on fundamentals of arbitration and advocacy and Advocate Udit Vyas talking on commercial transactions. As part of her remarks, Senior Advocate Meenakshi Arora's powerful speech on women's representation and rights captivated the students, where she encouraged a group effort to guarantee justice and safety for women, emphasizing that "women must stand up for themselves because no one else will." She talked about historical examples to highlight the continuous fight for justice against sexual assault, such as the Suman Rani case, in support of stricter legislation aimed at preventing gender-based violence.
Justice M.R. Shah inspired the students with his thoughts on each citizen's responsibility to protect the Constitution. According to him, "Every citizen must know and abide by the law; the Constitution is not just for judges." With an emphasis on the idea that "life is an echo—what you give is what you get," he challenged students to see their duties as active citizens. Additionally, Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi spoke on the fundamental ideas of secularism and brotherhood written in the Indian Constitution. "Mutual respect for all religions is what fraternity is about; it is not about uniformity," he said. "The guiding principles of secularism and fraternity can serve as a beacon of light," he quoted, emphasizing the necessity of aggressive judicial steps to apply these ideals. His observations served as a helpful reminder to the students of the value of promoting an equitable and respectful society.
As part of his remarks, Senior Advocate Siddartha Dave talked about the complexities of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). "To trace money generated from crime is the purpose of PMLA," he clarified, emphasizing how crucial it is to understand the law's intent. Reminding the attendees that "there is nothing like finality in law," he advised them to approach legal provisions with thought and imagination. Senior Advocate Satyajeet Desai stressed the significance of knowing the origins of Hindu law while providing insightful remarks on its development. "We must look to the roots of any law in order to understand it", he said, outlining the notable legislative measures that have influenced Hindu law and advocating for ongoing changes to advance gender equality in the legal system.
Samvidhan Pe Charcha 2.0 served as a forum for discussion and as a call to action for aspiring legal professionals, and a celebration of legal knowledge. The event lived up to its name of being a grand platform for legal knowledge and enhancing legal competencies through sessions with seasoned practitioners and experts in the field.
