NLSIU Announces Advisory Panel to the School Review Commission 2023-24

Section 14 of NLSIU’s governing statute, the National Law School of India Act, 1986, mandates the appointment of a School Review Commission (‘SRC’) comprising three eminent educationists to review the working of the University. The SRC has been constituted by the Chancellor of the University, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India Dr. D. Y. Chandrachud, in consultation with the Government of Karnataka, to undertake a comprehensive review of all aspects of the University and submit its recommendations to the Chancellor in mid-2024. The SRC is an independent body empowered to make recommendations on the working of the University. The Commission comprises Prof. Timothy Endicott as the Chair, and Prof. Catherine O’Regan and Prof. David B. Wilkins as Members. 

At the request of the Commission, the Chancellor in consultation with the Government of Karnataka has also appointed an Advisory Panel to guide the work of the Commission. The Chancellor has constituted an Advisory Panel to support and guide the work of the SRC comprising Prof. Poonam Saxena, Ms. Zia J. Mody, and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Siddappa Sunil Dutt Yadav. The Panel comprises eminent members from academia, the legal profession, and judiciary who are based in India and whose vast experience and expertise will benefit the work of the Commission. Below is a brief description of the members of the Advisory Panel to the SRC:

1. Prof. Poonam Saxena, Former Vice-Chancellor, National Law University, Jodhpur:

Prof. Poonam Saxena is an eminent distinguished legal academic who has led the National Law University, Jodhpur as the Vice Chancellor from (2013-2023) and was formerly the Professor in charge, Law Centre-II, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi (2007-2010). Prof Saxena holds degrees of LL.B., LL.M. and Ph.D. from the University of Delhi.

2. Ms. Zia J. Mody, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, AZB & Partners, Advocates and Solicitors:

Ms Mody is among India’s senior corporate attorneys and is dually licensed to practice law in India and the United States of America. She holds an LL.M. from Harvard Law School, USA and a Bachelor of Arts (Law) from Cambridge University, UK. Ms Mody has served on multiple review committees constituted by SEBI, RBI and the Ministry for Corporate Affairs.

3. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Siddappa Sunil Dutt Yadav, Judge, High Court of Karnataka:

Justice Yadav was appointed as Additional Judge of the High Court of Karnataka  in 2018 and has been appointed as a Permanent Judge  since 2020. Justice Yadav is a graduate of the 1996 batch of the BA LLB (Hons) programme from NLSIU, and the first NLSIU graduate to be appointed as a judge of the High Court of Karnataka.

NLSIU is honoured to welcome the distinguished members on the Advisory Panel to guide and advise the Commission in its review and we are confident that the Report of the Commission will help shape the future of NLSIU and legal education in the country. 

The SRC 2023-34 will travel to Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi to hold consultations with various stakeholders concerned with NLSIU and legal education generally from 18th to 22nd March, 2024. Please follow the NLS website for further updates. You may also reach out to the Office of the Commission at

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