The Indian Journal of Constitutional Law (IJCL)

About the Journal

⁠What is the IJCL?

The Indian Journal of Constitutional Law (IJCL) is the flagship constitutional law journal of NALSAR University of Law. It is published annually under the aegis of the M. K. Nambyar SAARCLAW Chair in Comparative Constitutional Studies. The Journal provides a platform for scholarly engagement with contemporary issues in constitutional law, with a special emphasis on comparative constitutional theory. It is student-run, peer-reviewed, and widely regarded for its rigorous editorial process and academic integrity.

⁠⁠History of the IJCL

The IJCL was established in 2007 and has since become one of the most prominent student-edited law journals in India. Over the years, it has published the work of some of the most respected names in Indian and global constitutional scholarship. Contributors have included Tony Blackshield, Arvind P. Datar, Gary Jeffrey Jacobson, Archana Parashar, Amita Dhanda, Upendra Baxi, Justice Michael Kirby, and Soli Sorabjee. Each volume has aimed to bring clarity to emerging debates in constitutional law and to serve as a valuable resource for both scholars and practitioners.

⁠Impact of the IJCL

The Journal has been cited by the Supreme Court of India and several High Courts, reflecting its influence on constitutional interpretation and legal reasoning. Beyond the courtroom, the IJCL has been referenced in a wide range of academic publications across the world. These include journals such as the Yale Journal of International Law, Stanford Journal of International Law, Maryland Law Review, International Journal of Constitutional Law, and the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law. This global reach confirms the Journal’s relevance in both domestic and comparative constitutional discourse.

About the Dignity Law Conference

The Dignity Law Conference is an annual academic event jointly hosted by the Indian Journal of Constitutional Law, the Centre for Constitutional Law, Policy and Good Governance, and the Access to Justice for Prisoners Project at NALSAR. The 2025 edition, held on July 5 and 6, focused on the theme “Promise and Practice”; with particular attention to dignity in courtroom and community contexts. The conference featured speakers such as Retired Justice S. Muralidhar, Professor Erin Daly, Professor Anup Surendranath, Professor Pritam Baruah, and Professor Srikrishna Deva Rao. It included panels on procedural justice, clinical legal education, intersectionality, and experiential narratives from the criminal justice system. Students were involved in all aspects of the conference including logistics, documentation, research, speaker coordination, and media work. The conference reflects the Journal’s broader commitment to creating spaces for academic inquiry and public-facing legal dialogue.