Prof. (Dr.) Saumya Uma
October 5, 2023 2024-08-20 6:32Prof. (Dr.) Saumya Uma
Prof. (Dr.) Saumya Uma
Professor
PhD in Law (NLSIU Bangalore, 2018);
LL M in International Human Rights (University of Nottingham, 1999);
LL M in Family Law and Human Rights (University of Mumbai, 1998);
BA LLB (Hons) (NLSIU Bangalore, 1994)
Email: saumya@jgu.edu.in
Prof. (Dr.) Saumya Uma is a Professor at Jindal Global Law School and heads its Centre for Women’s Rights. She has over 28 years’ combined work experience as an academic, law researcher, lawyer, trainer, writer and campaigner on gender, law and human rights. She has served as a research consultant on human rights, with international agencies such as the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (UNOHCHR) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). Additionally, she worked as the National Coordinator of ICC-India: the anti-impunity campaign on International Criminal Court and its relevance to India – from 2000 to 2010.
Dr. Uma teaches and researches at the intersection of gender, human rights and the law. In particular, she writes on feminist jurisprudence; international criminal justice and its relevance to India; victim and witness protection; justice and accountability for mass crimes; South Asian women’s movements and the feminist envisioning of justice; human rights law and lawyering; gender based violence and reparative justice; access to justice; social exclusion and marginalization; clinical legal education; and feminist pedagogy. She has researched and authored eleven books, edited/co-edited books by reputed publishers such as the Oxford University Press, and has written and published over sixty book chapters, articles in journals, newspapers and popular online media platforms.
Although firmly grounded in the discipline of law, Dr. Uma believes that a holistic approach to law is one that takes within its fold scholarship from other disciplines in social sciences and humanities, including sociology, political science, history, economics and women’s and gender studies. As such, her work reflects an inter-disciplinary approach to law, as compared to a ‘black letter’ law approach. Her current research interests are four fold: a) analyzing aspects of Indian family law through a feminist perspective; b) victim and witness protection; c) examining freedom of religion as a human right and its intersection with women’s equality rights in the national, South Asian and international contexts; and d) tracing the inter-linkages between international law and domestic legal processes on issues pertaining to human rights, in other words, in domesticating international human rights standards. Additionally, she is presently preparing a book manuscript on violence against women and the Indian legal responses.
Dr. Uma holds a B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) from National Law School of India (NLSIU), Bangalore; two postgraduate law degrees – LL.M. in Family Law and Human Rights from the University of Mumbai, India and LL.M. in International Human Rights at the University of Nottingham, U.K. She received the prestigious British Chevening scholarship for human rights, administered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, U.K. for pursuing the latter degree. She completed her doctoral research from her alma mater – NLSIU. The research focused on developing an Indian legal framework on victim and witness protection, with a specific reference to gender based violence.
Dr. Uma has several years of teaching experience at renowned universities in India such as National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) – Mumbai and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD) prior to joining Jindal Global Law School in January 2020.
Researched and authored twelve books, edited/co-edited books by reputed publishers such as the Oxford University Press, and has written and published over 77 book chapters, articles in journals, newspapers and popular online media platforms.
Select Publications:
Books
- Violence, Gender and the State: ‘Not Just’ A Legal Analysis, New York: Routledge, 2023
- An Introspection of Justice Initiatives for the Kandhamal Violence 2008-2015 (co-authored with Vrinda Grover), New Delhi: Media House, 2017
- Breathing Life into the Constitution: Human Rights Lawyering in India (co-authored with Arvind Narrain), Bengaluru: Alternative Law Forum, 2017
- Social Security Legislations in India, Bengaluru: Department of Distance Education, National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, 2015
- Breaking the Shackled Silence: Unheard Voices of Women from Kandhamal, Bhubaneswar: National Alliance of Women – Odisha chapter, 2014
- Rights of Adolescent Girls in India: A Critical Look at Laws and Policies, Mumbai: Vacha, 2012
- Kandhamal: The Law Must Change its Course, edited by Vrinda Grover, New Delhi: Multiple Action Research Group, Mumbai, 2010
- Addressing Domestic Violence Through the Law: A Guide to The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, edited by Vrinda Grover, New Delhi: Multiple Action Research Group, Mumbai, 2010
Book Chapters
- ‘Marital Rape in South Asia: Colonial Origins and Postcolonial Challenges’, in Matthias Vanhullebusch et al (eds.), Asian Yearbook of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Vol. 7, 2023, 271-309
- ‘Equal Opportunity at the Workplace: Issues and Challenges’ in Shahida Murtaza and Amir Ullah Khan (eds.), Gender and Inclusion, Centre for Development and Policy Practice, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, 2021, 1-22
- ‘Female Criminality, Mental Health and the Law’ in Dr. Meenu Anand (ed.), Gender and Mental Health: Combining Theory and Practice, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020, 143-158
‘A Beacon of Hope: Engaging with the Communal Violence Bill’ in Poonam Kathuria and Abha
Bhaiya (eds), Indian Feminisms: Individual and Collective Journeys, Zubaan Publications, New Delhi, 2018, 163-196 - ‘Atrocities and Discrimination Against Dalits: A Critical Examination of the Response of the Law’, in Ramesh Jare and Sampath Kale (eds.), Caste in Modern India: Atrocities Against Dalits, New Delhi:Studium Press Pvt Ltd., 2017
Journal Articles
- ‘Looking Back, Looking Forward: Law Commission of India and the Uniform Civil Code’, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. LVIII No. 40, 7 October 2023, 21-23
- ‘Between the Devil and the Deep Sea: Tribal Women’s Inheritance Rights in India’, Indian Journal of Gender Studies, 30(3), 2023, 309–329
- ‘Lesser than Equal? A Feminist Analysis of Hindu Family Law in India’, African Journal of Gender and Religion, Vol. 28, No. 2 (2022), 1-28
- ‘Clash of The Titans or Friendly Bedfellows? Examining The Intersections of Freedom of Religion and Women’s Rights in India’, Review of Faith and International Affairs, 20:2, 81-95
- ‘Fidelity, Male Privilege and the Sanctity of Marriage: Examining the Decriminalization of Adultery in India’, Women and Criminal Justice, 26 October 2021.
- ‘Menstrual ‘Impurity’, Women’s Access to Public Worship and the Law: A Feminist Re-writing of the Sabarimala Judgment S. Mahendran v The Secretary, Travancore Devaswom Board AIR 1993 Ker 42′, Indian Law Review, Vol.5, June 2021
- ‘Wedlock or Wed-Lockup? A Case for Abolishing Restitution of Conjugal Rights in India’, International Journal of Law, Policy and The Family, Vol. 35, Issue 1, 2021, 1-23
- ‘All Work, No Pay: On Valuing Women’s Housework’ (co-authored with Malabika Pal), Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 56, Issue No. 17, 24 April 2021, 31-34
- Police Atrocities and the Quest for Justice (co-authored with Vijay Hiremath), Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. LV No. 50, December 19, 2020, 32-37
Human rights, gender and the law; victim and witness protection; gender-based violence; mass crimes and justice; freedom of religion, women’s rights and the law; human rights lawyering; social movements and the law; feminist jurisprudence; family law.
- Member, The European Association for South Asian Studies (EASAS)
- Member, Law and Society Association (LSA), University of Massachusetts
- Life member, Indian Association for Women’s Studies (IAWS)
- Member of the Board, Women’s Regional Network – Afghanistan, Pakistan and India
- Member of Board of Governors, Indo-Global Social Service Society
- Member of International Advisory Committee, Politikon – the academic journal of the International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS).
- Member of Advisory Board, Law League
- Member of Editorial Board, Maharashtra National Law University Law Review (MNLULR)
- Member of Editorial Board, International Journal of Law and Interdisciplinary Research
- Member, The European Association for South Asian Studies (EASAS)
- Member, Law and Society Association (LSA), University of Massachusetts
- Life member, Indian Association for Women’s Studies (IAWS)
- Member of the Board, Women’s Regional Network – Afghanistan, Pakistan and India
- Member of Board of Governors, Indo-Global Social Service Society
- Member of International Advisory Committee, Politikon – the academic journal of the International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS).
- Member of Advisory Board, Law League
- Member of Editorial Board, Maharashtra National Law University Law Review (MNLULR)
- Member of Editorial Board, International Journal of Law and Interdisciplinary Research
At Jindal Global Law School:
Family Law II (law of inheritance and succession)
Human Rights Lawyering in India (elective)
Feminists in Action: Women’s Movements and Legal Advocacy Initiatives (elective)
Intersectional Feminism, Gendered Violence and the Law (elective)
At other universities in the past:
Constitutional Law I
Family Law I
Family Law II
Legal Methods
Introduction to Law
Communication and Advocacy Skills
Legal Pedagogy