Centre for criminology opened at Patiala law university

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 4

Former Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra inaugurated the Centre for Criminology, Criminal Justice and Victimology (CCV) during the virtual programme organised by Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), here. Prof GS Bajpai, Vice-Chancellor, RGNUL, while welcoming the guests elaborated on the objectives of the centre. He said, “To advance research in disciplines of criminology, criminal justice and victimology, the centre will undertake specific research projects and provide consultancy by way of legal start-ups and collaborations.” Prof Bajpai observed that CCV would assist law enforcement agencies, initiate victim advocacy clinic and focus on capacity development programmes. “Victim justice, operation of criminal law, empirical research and student-centric activities will be taken up by the CCV,” he added.

Justice Dipak Misra reflected on the ideas of punishment, fundamental rights of victims, role of students in rendering assistance to victims, interests of the weaker section and social cultural hygiene. He alluded to the ideology of Plato, Jeremy Bentham and Immanuel Kant to explain various concepts related to justice. The former chief justice, while inaugurating the centre, reiterated that investigation and prosecution wings should remain separated to provide victim space for seeking justice. He accentuated on the role of students in providing assistance to victims under the supervision of competent jail officials and faculty. “Connecting with victim is a great art,” said Dipak Misra.

Prof Robert Peacock, academic head, Department of Criminology, expanded on the globalised and glocalised justice patterns. While speaking about the incongruity of patterns in western and indigenous communities, he pitched on the need to carve a people-oriented emancipatory agenda.

Prof Michael O’ Connell, Secretary-General, World Society of Victimology, Australia; Prof Sarah Simons, dean, Faculty of Psychology and Criminology, Frantz Fanon University, UK; Prof Xin Ren, Division of Criminal Justice, California State University, USA; and Prof Naresh Kumar Vats, Registrar, RGNUL, were present during the e-inaugural of CCV.