Chennai, Sep 11: Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Y.S.R. Murthy, Pro Vice Chancellor, and Prof. Dr. Indranath Gupta, Dean of SRM School of Law, the institute hosted a landmark academic event. The event featured a Distinguished Public Lecture followed by a faculty interaction led by Professor Siraj Sait, Director of Research and Professor of Law and Development at the Royal Docks School of Business and Law, University of East London.
Jointly organized by the Centre for Human Rights Studies and the Centre for Environment Law and Sustainability, the session brought together legal scholars, faculty members, and students to explore the intersection of global governance, human rights, and transformative legal education.
During his interaction, Prof. Siraj Sait said
“With over 1,800 law schools in India Institutions must move beyond traditional teaching models and embrace interdisciplinary, experiential learning, impactful research and strategic partnerships. A student-centric approach that builds critical thinking, adaptability and real-world skills will be key to preparing future legal professionals for a rapidly evolving world.”
Prof. Sait, an alumnus of the University of Madras, Harvard University, and the University of London, brought a wealth of international experience to the address. His distinguished career spans high-level United Nations advisory appointments including Chair of the Law Drafting Committee for Benadir Somalia, Chair of the UN Iraq Projects Evaluation Group, and Member of the UN-Habitat High Level Advisory Group on Gender Issues alongside extensive consultancies with UNICEF, UNHCR, and FAO. In India, his legal foundation includes service as a Public Prosecutor, Supreme Court Commissioner Advocate, and role within the Solicitor General’s office.
Opening the lecture, titled “Sustainability, Law and Human Rights,” Prof. Sait reflected on his early academic journey in Chennai, sharing how overcoming initial curriculum uncertainties and language barriers paved the way to major milestones. Drawing on his tenure as Special Commissioner on Bonded Labour and Public Prosecutor on Human Rights, he emphasized how legal professionals must use neutral positions to challenge systemic caste discrimination, combat bonded labour cycles, and address domestic human rights issues. Invoking the first Prime Minister of Independent India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s iconic “Tryst with Destiny” speech, Prof. Sait urged the audience to move beyond traditional courtroom practice, calling on modern lawyers to leverage empirical research, comparative legal analysis, and policy reforms to advance sustainable development and equality.
Following the main address, the event transitioned into an intense interaction convened by Prof. Sait titled “From Madras Law College to Harvard and Beyond: Recounting the Journey,” focusing on legal pedagogy, research methodologies, and institutional growth. The session analysed global educational paradigms, discussing India’s need to focus on critical legal analysis, while also discussing the Western models, specifically the US, and UK’s approach. Prof. Sait further engaged with the faculty on the harsh realities of teaching public international law, the strategic value of post-doctoral research, and mechanisms for building institutional academic brands through high-impact scholarship. Concluding the session, he urged educators to inspire experiential learning and underscored the vital responsibility of academic faculty to participate directly in pro-bono work and Public Interest Litigation .
