Prof. (Dr.) Saumya Uma
October 5, 2023 2023-10-11 5:49Prof. (Dr.) Saumya Uma
Prof. (Dr.) Saumya Uma
Professor and Director, Centre for Women’s Rights
B.A. LL.B. (NLSIU, Bangalore);
LL.M. (University of Mumbai);
LL.M. (University of Nottingham);
Ph.D. (NLSIU, Bangalore)
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.
Select Articles in Peer reviewed Journals
- 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 (forthcoming)
- Fidelity, Male Privilege and the Sanctity of Marriage: Examining the Decriminalization of Adultery in India, Women and Criminal Justice, 26 October 2021, https://doi.org/10.1080/08974454.2021.1972899
- 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, https://doi.org/10.1080/24730580.2021.1937893
- 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, https://doi.org/10.1093/lawfam/ebab004
- All Work, No Pay: On Valuing Women’s Housework (co-authored with Malabika Pal), Economic and Political Weekly, 56, Issue No. 17, 24 April 2021, 31-34
- Rights and Wrongs of Anti-Conversion Law(s): Juxtaposing ‘Honour’ with Women’s Agency (co-authored with Niti Saxena), Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. LVI No. 1, January 2, 2021, 15-18
- 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
- Gamechanger or a Trojan Horse? Some Reflections on the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (co-authored with Aditya Kamath), Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. LIV No. 20, May 16, 2020, 59-65
- At the Crossroads of Freedom of Religion and Gender Equality: Some Reflections from South Asia, International Journal for Religious Freedom 9:1/2 (2016), 67-80 (published back issue of 2016 in 2020)
- South Asian Feminist Engagements with Law: Some Perspectives on Violence Against Women, Jindal Global Law Review – Special Issue on Women & Law in South Asia, Vol. 10, Issue 2, 2019, pp. 197-221
- Engendering a Law on Victim and Witness Protection in India, International Journal of Socio-Legal Analysis and Rural Development, Vol. 4 Issue 1, 2019, pp. 5-18 (ISSN No. 24554049)
- Human Rights and its Future: Some Reflections (co-authored with Arvind Narrain) in Jindal Global Law Review, Special Issue on ‘Upendra Baxi in Our Times: Law, Life and Luminality’, 2018, published by Jindal Global Law School, O.P.Jindal Global University (ISSN 0975-2498)
- Women’s Access to Places of Religious Worship in India: The Constitutional Conundrum of Gender Equality versus Freedom of Religion, in International Journal of Law, Human Rights & Constitutional Studies, Vol. 2, No. 1 & 2 (2017), pp. 13-21
- Outlawing Cyber Crimes Against Women, in Bharati Law Review, Vol. V, Issue 4 (Special Issue on Cyber Law), April-June 2017, pp. 103-116 (ISSN No. 2278-6996)
- ‘Shifting Sands: Collaborative Teaching as a Legal Pedagogy’, in South Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol. 4, Issue 4, June 2017, pp. 101-117 (ISSN:2349-7858)
- ‘Affirmative Action in the Private Sector: Need for a Multi-Pronged and Holistic Approach’, National Law University Assam (NLUA) Law and Policy Review, Volume 1, Number 1, 2015, 7-17
- ‘Access to Justice for Women: From Obligations to Outcomes’, National Law University Odisha (NLUO) Law Journal – Special Issue on ‘Access to Justice’, Vol. II, Issue 1,August 2015, 116-134
- ‘Witness Protection is the Need of the Hour’, In Law Magazine, Issue No. 1, Vol. 03, (March 2015), Bengaluru: National Law School of India University, 12-16
- Advocating Socio-economic Justice: Some Experiences of the ICC-India Campaign and the Potential for a Law Clinic, Social Change, 42, 4 (2012): 487-504
Books
- Breathing Life into the Constitution: Human Rights Lawyering in India (co-authored with Arvind Narrain), Alternative Law Forum, Bengaluru, 2017
- An Introspection of Justice Initiatives for the Kandhamal Violence 2008-2015 (co-authored with Vrinda Grover), Media House, New Delhi, 2017 (ISBN No. 978-93-7495-674-8)
- From Responsibilities to Results: Functioning of the Odisha State Commission for Women – A Study, Centre for the Sustainable Use of Natural and Social Resources, Bhubaneswar, 2015
- Social Security Legislations in India, Bengaluru: Department of Distance Education, National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, 2015 (ISBN No. 978-93-83363-34-6)
- Breaking the Shackled Silence: Unheard Voices of Women from Kandhamal, National Alliance of Women – Odisha chapter, Bhubaneswar, 2014
- Rights of Adolescent Girls in India: A Critical Look at Laws and Policies, Vacha, Mumbai, 2012
- Kandhamal: The Law Must Change its Course, edited by Vrinda Grover, New Delhi: Multiple Action Research Group, Mumbai, 2010 (ISBN No. 978-81-87377-19-1)
- 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 (ISBN No. 978-81-87377-19-1)
- ‘Supreme Court Speaks: Judgments on Muslim Law and Women’s Rights’, Mumbai: Women’s Research & Action Group, Mumbai, 2007
- International Criminal Court & India: Responses to Queries Raised by Parliamentarians, Mumbai: Women’s Research & Action Group and People’s Watch, Mumbai, 2005
- International Court & India: Some Questions & Answers’, Mumbai: Women’s Research & Action Group, Mumbai, 2004
Edited Books
- Remembering Mukul Sinha 1951-2014 (co-edited with Arvind Narrain), Alternative Law Forum, Bengaluru, 2015
- Pursuing Elusive Justice: Mass Crimes in India & the Relevance of International Standards, (co- edited with Vahida Nainar), Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 2013 (ISBN No. 978-0-19-807999-6)
- Unpackaging Human Rights: Concepts, Campaigns & Concerns, Women’s Research & Action Group and Documentation, Research and Training Centre, Mumbai, 2009
Select Book Chapters (Peer-reviewed)
- 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 (ISBN: 978-981-15-5392-9)
- 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, pp. 163-196 (ISBN: 978 93 85932 01 4)
- 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 ( ISBN 13 : 978-93-85046-11-7)
- ‘Whither Peace? A Discussion on Violence, Impunity and 1325 in the Light of Communal Violence’, (co-authored with Ila Pathak), in Asha Hans and Swarna Rajagopalan (eds.), Openings for Peace, Sage Publications, New Delhi, 2016, pp. 199-245 (ISBN No. 978-93-859-8566-9)
- ‘Reparative Justice for Violence Against Women: A Comparative Study of State Schemes for Victim Compensation’, (co-authored with Manisha Band), in Prof. (Dr.) Paramjit S. Jaswal, Prof. (Dr.) G.I.S. Sandhu, Dr. Upneet Lalli and Dr. Shilpa Jain, Victim Compensation and Restorative Justice, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala, 2016, pp. 84-97 (ISBN No. 978-93-84166-11-3)
- Impunity Writ Large: A Study of Crimes by the Joint Special Task Forces (JSTF) in Saumya Uma & Vahida Nainar (eds.), Pursuing Elusive Justice: Mass Crimes in India & the Relevance of International Standards, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2013, pp. 24-59 (ISBN No. 978-0-19-807999-6)
- Law Reform on Sexual and Gender-Based Crimes in Mass Violence in Saumya Uma & Vahida Nainar (eds.), Pursuing Elusive Justice: Mass Crimes in India & the Relevance of International Standards, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2013, pp. 202-244 (ISBN No. 978-0-19-807999-6)
- Integrating Victims’ Rights in the Indian Legal Framework in Saumya Uma & Vahida Nainar (eds.), Pursuing Elusive Justice: Mass Crimes in India & the Relevance of International Standards, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 2013, pp. 245-286 (ISBN No. 978-0-19-807999-6)
Popular Articles (recent)
- International Criminal Court: A Report Card, The Wire, 16 September 2021
https://thewire.in/rights/international-criminal-court-a-report-card - State Cooperation and the Challenge to International Criminal Justice, The Wire, 13 September 2021
https://thewire.in/law/state-cooperation-and-the-challenge-to-international-criminal-justice - Victims at the Heart of International Justice, The Wire, 9 September 2021
https://thewire.in/rights/victims-at-the-heart-of-international-criminal-justice - Where does International Criminal Law Stand When it Comes to Sexual and Gender Based Violence?, The Wire, 6 September 2021
https://thewire.in/rights/where-does-international-criminal-law-stand-when-it-comes-to-sexual-and-gender-based-violence - Israel’s Colonisation of Palestine and the Pursuit of International Justice, The Wire, 2 September 2021 https://thewire.in/world/israels-colonisation-of-palestine-and-the-pursuit-of-international-justice
- The Rohingya’s Quest for International Justice, The Wire, 30 August 2021
https://thewire.in/world/the-rohingyas-quest-for-international-justice - Catching the Big Fish: Examining the Efficacy of International Criminal Justice, The Wire, 26 August 2021 https://thewire.in/world/catching-the-big-fish-examining-the-efficacy-of-international-criminal-justice
- The Afghan Conflict and the Long Road to International Justice, The Wire, 23 August 2021
https://thewire.in/world/the-afghan-conflict-and-the-long-road-to-international-justice - Why Maharashtra’s ‘Justice for Acid Victims’ Scheme is a Monumental Farce, co-authored with Vijay Hiremath, The Wire, 28 June 2018
https://thewire.in/gender/why-maharashtras-manodhairya-scheme-is-a-monumental-farce
- 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
Core Courses
- Family Law II
Electives
- Feminists in Action: Women’s Movements and Legal Advocacy Initiatives
- Human Rights Lawyering in India
Courses Taught in Other Universities
- Feminist Jurisprudence (elective)
- Legal Methods
- Introduction to Law
- Human Rights Lawyering in India
- Human Rights and Duties
- Family Law I
- Family Law II
- Constitutional Law I
- Communication and Advocacy Skills
- Legal Clinics and Clinical Methodology
- Group Inequality and Inclusive Policy
- Social Exclusion and the Law (elective)