Hon’ble Chief Justice of India Lays Foundation Stone of the JSW Academic Block at the NLS Campus

JSW’S COMMITMENT INCLUDES A NEW ‘CENTRE FOR THE FUTURE OF LAW’ AT NLSIU, FOCUSED ON LEGAL TECH INNOVATIONS 

Hon’ble Chief Justice of India and Chancellor of the National Law School of India University, Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud laid the foundation stone for the comprehensive redevelopment and expansion of the New Academic Block – to be named the JSW Academic Block – at the NLS campus on September 22, 2024.

Several distinguished dignitaries attended the ceremony including Hon’ble Shri R. Venkataramani Attorney General for India who unveiled the plaque on the occasion along with Shrimati Sangita Jindal, Chairperson of the JSW Foundation; Shri Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman of the Bar Council of India; and Mr. Parth Jindal, Managing Director of JSW Cement & JSW Paints.

Speaking on the occasion, NLSIU Vice Chancellor Prof. Sudhir Krishnaswamy said: “We are here today because of the extraordinary generosity of the JSW Foundation led by Shrimati Sangita Jindal, Mr. Parth Jindal, and Mr. Murugan P K, (President, Vijayanagar Steel Works, JSW Steel Limited). We also thank the other members of the JSW team who have made this possible. The JSW Foundation has graciously made the single largest grant in the University’s history to redevelop the academic block as the ‘JSW Academic Block’, and to establish a ‘Centre for the Future of Law’ dedicated to supporting research, policy development, and and scholarship in frontier areas of legal development. Today, we have a brief ceremony to unveil the plaque, commemorating the  redevelopment of this academic block.”

Under the proposed plan, the existing building will be transformed into a multi-storey structure, providing state-of-the-art lecture theatres, seminar rooms, faculty offices, and collaborative research spaces. This upgraded infrastructure will enable students and researchers to benefit from an enhanced learning environment, allowing them to thrive in a fast-evolving legal landscape. The project, made possible by a substantial grant from the JSW Group, is part of a broader collaboration aimed at transforming NLSIU’s academic infrastructure. The grant will fund both the work at this Academic Block and the establishment of the ‘JSW Centre for the Future of Law’, a cutting-edge research hub designed to address the emerging challenges and opportunities posed by technological advancements in the legal field. The Centre will spearhead research on issues such as artificial intelligence, digital privacy, automation, and the ethical implications of these emerging technologies. It will foster collaboration between academia, government bodies, regulatory authorities, and the private sector to develop new models of legal regulation and incubate cutting-edge legal technologies. The announcement regarding the JSW grant was made in April 2024.

Reflecting on this initiative, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Dr. Justice D Y Chandrachud said: “NLSIU, Bangalore is at the forefront of the movement to provide quality legal education, not just in terms of providing cutting edge research knowledge, but providing a socially purposive legal education for students who walk through these portals. But providing quality legal education requires adequate infrastructure and this is the need of the hour. And it’s wonderful that the Jindal family has stepped in to provide this infrastructure for NLSIU. I’m sure that this will enable both faculty and students to use the infrastructure to provide truly quality legal research and carry the vision into improving not just legal education in India, but shaping a better society for our nation in the future.”

Mr. Sajjan Jindal, Chairman & Managing Director of JSW Group, said, “At JSW, we believe in the transformative power of education. The  development of the Academic Block and the establishment of the JSW Centre for the Future of Law are not just about infrastructure, but also about preparing the next generation of legal professionals to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of law and technology. This partnership aligns with our vision of supporting initiatives that have a lasting impact on
nation building.”

Ms. Sangita Jindal, Chairperson of JSW Foundation, highlighted the long-term benefits of this and said, “Our investment in NLSIU’s infrastructure aims to create an environment where students are not only equipped with academic knowledge but are also empowered to address societal challenges. We believe that the future of law in India will be shaped by professionals who are prepared to engage with new technologies while upholding the principles of justice and equity. The JSW Academic Block and the Centre for the Future of Law will be instrumental in achieving this vision.”

Mr. Parth Jindal, Managing Director of JSW Cement and JSW Paints, said, “Technology is rapidly transforming the legal landscape, from AI-powered tools for contract analysis to automation in litigation. The JSW Centre for the Future of Law will allow NLSIU to stay at the forefront of these innovations, ensuring that future legal professionals are prepared to engage with, and regulate these technologies. Our partnership with NLSIU reflects JSW’s commitment to creating world-class educational opportunities that empower future leaders.”

With this collaboration, the JSW Group and NLSIU are jointly committed to shaping the future of legal education in India, making it more inclusive, technology-driven, and responsive to the changing dynamics of the profession.

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About JSW Foundation:

JSW Foundation is the social development arm of JSW Group, one of India’s fastest-growing conglomerates. It has a long track record and a rich legacy of empowering rural communities to enrich their lives since the past three decades. The Foundation’s focus areas are Education, Health & Nutrition, Skill Development, Rural BPO, Environment & Water, Sports and Art & Heritage. The JSW Foundation operates two multi-specialty hospitals in Karnataka and Maharashtra with outpatient potential of 100,000 annually. It’s educational interventions have positively impacted more than 140,000 underprivileged children in rural locations while its Agriculture, Women Self-Help Groups (SHG) & Rural BPO initiatives have created new livelihood sources for more than 16,000 farmers and 10,000 rural women. The Foundation has provided access to sanitation by constructing more than 7500 toilets in rural villages. It has also helped more than 200,000 needy individuals access Government welfare schemes. The foundation has trained over 23000 youth on various skills that lead to their employment or entrepreneurship. 1400 self-help groups with around 16000 rural women are providing access to credit to the poor. JSW Foundation’s work in Art & Heritage is focused on restoring India’s monuments such as Chandramouleshwara Temple in Hampi, Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue in Mumbai among others. These restorations have been recognized globally and won prestigious international awards.

The Press Release is attached here.