Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) Criminal Law Essay Writing Competition

1. Overview of GNLU

Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) was established by the Government of Gujarat under the Gujarat National Law University Act, 2003. The university is recognized by the Bar Council of India and the University Grants Commission (UGC). It offers a range of programs, including integrated undergraduate law degrees (B.A. LL.B., B.S.W. LL.B., B.Com. LL.B., B.B.A. LL.B., B.Sc. LL.B.), full-time LL.M., MBA in Financial Management and Business Laws, and PhD in law and related disciplines, as well as diploma and certificate courses.

2. GNLU Centre for Research in Criminal Justice Sciences (GCRCJS)

The GNLU Centre for Research in Criminal Justice Sciences (GCRCJS) is dedicated to advancing the study of criminal law through research and academic discussions. It has organized significant events such as the 13th Asian Criminology Conference and the GCRCJS International Conference on Crime & Technology. The Centre also conducts legislative drafting competitions and various discourse series. It publishes the ‘Crime and Justice Gazette’ and maintains the ‘Crime & Justice Blog’. Notable figures, including Justice Gita Gopi and Shri Shekhar Naphade, have been hosted for webinars and guest lectures.

3. Essay Writing Competition

The essay competition is centered around the theme: “Evaluating the Shifting Features of India’s Criminal Justice System After 78 Years of Independence.” Participants are encouraged to explore various sub-themes, including:

• Analysing the Three New Criminal Laws
• Emergence of White-Collar Crime
• Functioning of Special Investigation Agencies
• Introduction of New Crimes
• Continuance of Colonial Hierarchy in the Criminal Justice System
• Emergence of New Criminal Activities through Cyberspace
• Rise of State Policing
• Criminal Justice Administration: Studying the Criminal Bureaucracy

The goal is to provide students with a platform to engage critically with the challenges and opportunities within India’s criminal justice system.

4. Awards and Recognition

• 1st Prize: ₹5,000
• 2nd Prize: ₹3,000
• 3rd Prize: ₹2,000
• Certificates: All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation.
• Publication: The top three entries will be published on the GCRCJS Crime & Justice Blog and will receive a Certificate of Merit.

5. Submission Guidelines

• Anonymity: Essays must not include the author’s name or any form of identification.
• Co-authorship: Limited to a maximum of two authors.
• Word Limit: 1500-2000 words, excluding footnotes.
• Font Style and Size:
• Headings: Times New Roman, 14
• Body Text: Times New Roman, 12
• Footnotes: Times New Roman, 10
• Line Spacing:
• Body Text: 1.5
• Footnotes: 1.0
• Citation Style: OSCOLA
• Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on each side.
• Footnotes: Speaking footnotes are optional, with a maximum of 50 words each.
• Plagiarism Limit: 10%, following UGC guidelines.
• AI Usage: Strictly prohibited.

6. Submission Process

• Format: Submissions must be in .doc or .docx format only.
• Document Name: Name the document as <Title of the Paper_EssayComp>.
• Submission Link: Submissions must be made through the provided Google Link.
• Deadline: 25 September 2024

7. Contact Information

• Email: gcrcjs@gnlu.ac.in
• Phone Contacts:
• Ms. Simran Srivastava: +91 98078 51552
• Bhanupratap Singh Rathore: +91 96643 38656

8. Important Links