UPES Recruiting Law Faculty

The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), College of Legal Studies

Professor/Associate Professor /Asstt. Professor in Law

Founded in 2003, the UPES is committed to the highest international standards of excellence in teaching and research, and has been at the international forefront of academic scholarship for many years. The University has a comprehensive range of study programmes and research disciplines spread across 3 Colleges and over 100 academic programs. There are over 7300 undergraduate and postgraduate students who are recruited globally, and more than 400 members of academic and academic-related staff coming from multi-cultural backgrounds, many of whom are internationally renowned.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Applications are invited for appointment as Full time Professor/Associate Professor/ Asstt. Professor in Law in the College of Legal Studies (CoLS), to commence as soon as possible. The CoLS is now seeking to appoint an outstanding candidate to the position of Professor/Associate Professor/ Asstt. Professor in Law, with research and teaching interests in the law.

The successful candidate will be expected to make a leading contribution to the CoLS's research profile, by sustaining high-quality research and active participation in research communities. He/She will also be expected to contribute strongly to the development and delivery of teaching on the CoLS's undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF LEGAL STUDIES: The Faculty of Law plays a leading role in legal education in India, through its various undergraduate, research postgraduate, and taught postgraduate programmes covering a wide range of legal subject areas. It is one of the largest teaching institutions in India, currently running 9 UG, PG and Doctoral programs. Information about the College can be found at http://www.upes.ac.in

FURTHER INFORMATION: A nationally competitive remuneration package commensurate with qualifications and experience will be offered, in addition to annual leave and medical benefits.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Applicants should send a completed application form together with an up-to-date C.V. to msolanki@ddn.upes.ac.in , tahmad@ddn.upes.ac.in . Further details and application forms can be downloaded at http://www.upes.ac.in.

The University thanks applicants for their interest, but advises that only shortlisted applicants will be notified of the application result.

UPES Journal of Law and Technology (UJLT)- Call for Papers

UPES Journal of Law and Technology (UJLT) is a bi-annual law, journal published by the College of Legal Studies, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun. UJLT is one of the early journals in India specifically devoted to the field of technology law. The journal is designed in a way that it caters to the demands of technology law.

The submissions are selected for publication through a peer-review mechanism comprising of multiple rounds of review. If required, the papers would be put through a refereed process.  

The Journal accepts submissions in the form of articles, notes, comments, and book reviews. Since the Journal focuses on the interface between law and technology, submissions should sufficiently have that focus. We are interested in submissions on the law and policy of areas, e.g., but not limited to e-commerce, cybercrime, biotechnology, bioethics, competition, outsourcing, intellectual property. Submissions on social issues posed by technology also fall within our interest.  

The Editorial Board invites submissions for Volume 1, Number 1. The Journal follows a rolling submissions policy and the deadline for submission for the forthcoming volume is March 10, 2015. However, since we never reject an otherwise good paper for want of space, the submissions received after this date shall be considered for the next issue. Our Volume 1, Number 1 is devoted to “Law and Technology Perspectives of Intellectual Property Rights”.  

Guidelines:

1. All manuscripts (in hard copy or e-mail) must be accompanied by:

a.    A covering letter with the name(s) of the author(s), institution/affiliation, the title of the manuscript and contact information (email, phone, etc.)

b.    An abstract of not more than 250 words describing the submission

2.  Electronic submissions (email) should be made in Word Format (.doc)/(.docx), (.pdf) format is not acceptable. The submission should have text size of 12pt for body text and 10pt for footnotes on Times New Roman Font style at 1.5 line spacing.

3.  Text and citations should ideally conform to THE BLUEBOOK: A UNIFORM SYSTEM OF CITATION (19th edition).  

4.  No biographical information or references, including the name(s) of the author(s), affiliation(s) and acknowledgements should be included in the text of the manuscript, file name or document properties.  All such information may be incorporated in the covering letter accompanying the manuscripts.

5.  The Journal encourages gender neutrality in language.

6.  The articles in the Journal will be edited and published according to the orthographical and grammatical rules of Indian English, which is based on British English. Submission in American English will be modified accordingly.

7.  To facilitate the publication of concise and relevant legal scholarship, the Journal strongly encourages authors not to exceed 20000 words (inclusive of text and footnotes). However, this word limit is not binding and can be waived in appropriate circumstances.

8.  Authors are required to obtain written permission for the use of any copyrighted material in the manuscript and must communicate the same to the Journal.  Such material may include tables, charts etc.

9.  Journal requires exclusive submissions. 

10. Either electronic or hard copies of the manuscripts may be submitted, though electronic submissions are strongly encouraged. 

Please send your submissions to:

a.    ujlt@ddn.upes.ac.in

b.    Address hard copies to:

Dr. Tabrez Ahmad,

Editor-in-Chief,

UPES Journal of Law and Technology

College of Legal Studies,

University of Petroleum and Energy Studies,

Dehradun - UK, India- 248007

11. Upon selection for publication, the authors shall grant a licence to the Editorial Board/College of Legal Studies to edit and publish the manuscript as part of the Journal. Authors shall retain copyright over their submission but must acknowledge first publication in the Journal. Unless otherwise agreed upon, such a license shall be as per the standard terms and conditions provided by the Journal to the authors upon acceptance.

National Workshop-cum-Conference on Judicial Dissent at Glocal Law School

Glocal Law School, Glocal University, Saharanpur, U.P, is going to organize a National Workshop-cum-Conference on “Judicial Dissent: A Conceptual and Contextual Audit of the Decision Making in the Supreme Court of India.  The conference is being organised in association with Rural Litigation  & Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), Dehradun and it will be held on 4th & 5th April, 2015.

For further detail please click here           

Wish all the Blog Readers a Very Happy New Year 2015

If we could stop for a minute to solve real problems facing humanity, instead of imaginary problems mystified with complex mathematics and vocabulary, we may be convinced to realize that education would have been one of the most luxurious adventures of mankind. If we don't have time to read a book in the New Year 2015, at least let us read and inculcate the thoughts of this message. It may make us think, to think is to expand, to expand is to gain and the thought process goes on. If we look on the bright side of things, we shall find enough to make us cheerful and happy. The most powerful thing in life... is our thinking, which has ability to change any situation. We often make two mistakes in our search of inner peace... focusing on things we cannot change, and ignoring things we can change.

As we all know that if we give smiles, they will be returned to us; if we speak pleasant, cheerful words, they will be spoken to us again. Our own words are the bricks and mortar of the dreams we want to realize. Our words are the greatest power we have. The words we choose and their use establish the life we experience. Therefore let us live our moments for what we are, not for what we may become. Let us always find time to tell those people we love, that we love them, care for them, or whatever they mean to us in our life. Life is precious, and we need to be grateful for each day we are given. We should not have only dreams but set goals and achieve what we would otherwise dream! Let us smile in trouble that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. Time heals all wounds, but only wisdom keeps them from reopening.

Making hundreds of friends is not a miracle. The miracle is to make a single friend like you who will stand by our side even when thousands are against us. The limitations of us are our own creation, designed to provide cover for our unwillingness to try. We should never be afraid to change our vision, set new goals, and challenge ourselves. Life is best experienced without boundaries; so let us live each day ceremoniously. In fact we are not bound to succeed, but we are bound to live by the light that we have. Let us stand with those whose stands are right, and remain with them while they are right. Let us seize the present opportunity; work with dedication and sincerity and enjoy it; this is the best reward that we can give to ourselves.  As we all came here, into this life, with our own music to play; each of us our own set of notes. Let's all play together nicely so that the world becomes a sweet music along the manuscript of life.

With these few words i wish you, your family and friends a very happy and successful year ahead.

ConferenceLex : UPES Journal of Law and Technology

ConferenceLex : UPES Journal of Law and Technology

My Teacher and Mentor Professor Faizan Mustafa got SAARC’s Best Law Teacher Award 2014

Professor Faizan Mustafa who is presently the Vice Chancellor of Nalsar Law University Hyderabad got this year’s prestigious SAARC’s Best Law Teacher Award. In a unanimous decision, the high-powered jury consisting of Professor NR Madhav Menon, eminent jurist and Founder Vice Chancellor of NLSIU, Bangalore and Mr Lalit Bhasin, President of Indian Law Firms, announced the conferment of the award on Professor Mustafa.

The award, which carries Rs 1 Lakh cash, citation and a plaque, would be given on 6th September at Delhi by the Union Law Minister in the presence of eminent professors of law, judges and eminent lawyers like Ram Jethmalani and Fali Nariman. Earlier awardees include leading jurists such as Padamshree NR Madava Menon, Professor Ranbir Singh, Professor GV Ajjappa, Professor VS Mani, Professor Laxminath and Professor Mizanur Rehman of Dhaka University, Bangladesh. This is a known fact that the Professor Mustafa is a widely acclaimed scholar and commands great respect among his students like me. He introduced several courses such as Intellectual Property Rights, International Human Rights Law and Tourism Laws at AMU. I was the first person to opt the newly introduced course on Intellectual Property at AMU in 1997. He taught so well that created immense interest in the subject and ultimately IPR became my career option.

At NALSAR he designed and taught new courses like Diversity Management Law, Comparative Strict Liability Law, Multiculturalism and Minority Rights etc. He is the only academic who has been nominated as member of National Legal Services Authority, which is headed by the Chief Justice of India. He is a member at Executive Councils, Academic Councils and General Councils of various universities and has been on various committees responsible for searching new Vice Chancellors.

Prof. Faizan Mustafa started his career at Aligarh Muslim University in early 1990. As a LLM gold medallist, he served the university in various capacities like, Professor of Law, Dean Faculty of Law and Registrar. He was also engaged in various International activities like the drafting of Eritrean Constitution Professor of Law in Ethiopia and advisor in UAE. In Ethiopia, he was exposed to the civil law tradition, was required to teach High Court Judges and work under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister. The country had got a new constitution and he was the only Professor of constitutional law in the entire country. In UAE, he had the opportunity to found a business school and introduce the BBA-LL.B course.

I also have a privilege to work in close association with him in the foundation stages of KIIT Law School and National Law University, Orissa. At both places I worked with him in designing the curricula to promote integration of knowledge as he firmly believes that knowledge is at the intersections of disciplines.

Currently he is serving as the Vice-Chancellor of NALSAR University of Law and very active in writing newspaper articles and books.  He has already written eight books and around 120 scholarly articles some of which have been relied upon by the apex court. He believe that institution building activity is a cooperative venture and try to do his share as the Chief Justice of India’s and Chancellor's nominee to the Academic, Executive and General Councils of several institutions along with serving on various Search Committees for the appointment of Vice-Chancellors.

Law for him is an instrument of social change thus as the Senior Vice-Chairperson of Rural Litigation & Entitlement Kendra, Dehra Dun. He supported the filing of the country’ first environmental and ecology related PIL in the lime stone mining matter. RLEK also got voting rights for the indigenous people of Shivalik Hills i.e. Van Gujjars. He also got 19000 laborers accepted as bonded laborers by the Government and secured their release.

Nothing interests him more than cooking. I am also privileged to eat the famous dish the Akhni Pulao prepared by him. He enjoys teaching and has great passion for debating. He also represented India in various debates during his student life at AMU Aligarh.

His achievements are great motivation and a matter of proud for all of us and hope if we can inculcate some of his excellent skills in our personality.

May Allah provide good health and shower the choicest blessings on him so he can contribute more for the growth and further development of the legal world.

4th Mediation Workshop at College of Legal Studies, UPES

College of Legal Studies, UPES is one of the few pioneer law schools in the world including Harvard Law School which provides special training to the students to inculcate and improve the mediation skills. The University organizes this program twice in a year since 2011.

The 4th Mediation Workshop at College of Legal Studies, UPES is going to begin from 16^th August, 2014 by very eminent personalities in India and the world who has made their mark in mediation and have resolved various complex disputes by mediation globally.

This year the mediation team has following personalities

Mr. Niranjan Bhatt, Sr. Counsel, Ahmedabad High Court

Mr. J.P. Sengh, Sr. Advocate, HC, Delhi.

Ms. Sadhana Ramachandran, Advocate, Supreme Court of India

Ms. Veena Ralli, HC of Delhi

The team also includes two American Students Sophie and Carina who came to attend the program on a student exchange program.

Mr. Niranjan Bhatt happens to be the President of the Association of Indian Mediators while Mrs. Sadhana Ramachandran the Secretary of the association needs no introduction being the pioneers in India who promoted the very concept of Mediation and have trained several lawyers and law professionals in the last 15 years.

The Mediation is an informal and confidential way for people to resolve disputes with the help of a neutral mediator who is trained to help people discuss their differences. The mediator does not decide who is right or wrong or issue a decision. Instead, the mediator helps the parties work out their own solutions to problems. A mediation session usually lasts from 3 to 4 hours, although the time can vary depending on how complicated the case is. There is no charge to either party to attend the mediation. Mediation is a negotiation process in which a neutral third party assists the disputing parties in resolving their disputes.

A Mediator uses special negotiation and communication techniques to help the parties to come to a settlement. The parties can appoint a Mediator with their mutual consent or a mediator can be appointed by the Court in a pending litigation.  The decision to mediate is completely voluntary. If the parties do not reach an agreement at the mediation, the charge will be investigated like any other charge. A written signed agreement reached during mediation is enforceable in court just like any other contract. Mediation always leaves the decision making power with the parties. A Mediator does not decide what is fair or right, does not apportion blame, nor renders any opinion on the merits or chances of success if the case is litigated. Rather, a mediator acts as a catalyst to bring the two disputing parties together by defining issues and limiting obstacles to communication and settlement. One of the greatest benefits of mediation is that it allows people to resolve the charge in a friendly way and in ways that meet their own unique needs. Also, a charge can be resolved faster through mediation. While it takes less than 3 months on average to resolve a charge through mediation, it can take 6 months or longer for a charge to be investigated.

Mediation is fair, efficient and can help the parties avoid a lengthy investigation and litigation. Mediation is an effective way of resolving disputes without the need to go to court. It involves an independent third party - a mediator - who helps both sides come to an agreement. Mediation is a flexible process that can be used to settle disputes in a whole range of situations such as: consumer disputes; contract disputes; family disputes; neighborhood disputes to name a few

Mediation is a voluntary process and will only take place if both parties agree. It is a confidential process where the terms of discussion are not disclosed to any party outside the mediation hearing. The mediation programs in addition to helping the students to work through complex personal disputes, the mediators are also developing skills of the students that will benefit them throughout their legal careers. Active listening, assumption-checking, empathy and interest-probing are skills that are important not only to mediation, but also to virtually any practice of law.  If parties are unable to reach agreement, they can still go to court. Details about what went on at the mediation will not be disclosed or used at a court hearing. Both parties share the cost of mediation, which will depend on the value and complexity of the claim.

The Law students should be interested in learning about mediation because being a more effective communicator helps the students in all areas of their life, personal (for instance, handling conflict with friends and family better) as well as professional (like understanding and clarifying what clients and supervisors are looking for). The role of the mediator is to help parties reach a solution to their problem and to arrive at an outcome that both parties are happy to accept. Mediators avoid taking sides, making judgments or giving guidance. They are simply responsible for developing effective communications and building consensus between the parties. The focus of a mediation meeting is to reach a common sense settlement agreeable to both parties in a case.