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at Opens Two-Month Online Course
at has opened registrations for a two-month online certificate course on in India, a structured programme designed to bridge the gap between legal theory and practice. Running from to , the 32-hour weekend course will feature live lectures by a diverse faculty of senior lawyers, academics and forensic experts, along with an online assessment and a hybrid closing session.
A Timely Response to a Persistent Training Gap
remains one of the most consequential and irreversible decisions in the criminal justice system. The has long treated the as an , but its application continues to raise deeply contested questions about , , delay, and the limits of . The latest overhaul of India’s criminal law framework has added another layer of complexity. Yet, according to , structured and practice-oriented training on the is still largely unexplored.
In its course announcement, said: “ remains the most severe and irreversible form of punishment which has undergone significant developments, particularly with the enactment of the new criminal law codes. However, structured, practice-oriented training on the subject remains unexplored.”
This two-month programme is intended to fill that vacuum by combining doctrinal instruction with litigation-focused sessions, forensic perspectives, comparative analysis and reform debates.
Course Architecture: Weekend Lectures, Live Faculty and Online Assessment
The course extends over eight weeks and comprises 32 contact hours, with four hours of instruction per week. Live online lectures will be held on weekends, making the programme accessible to working professionals and students alike. Indian speakers will generally address participants from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM IST, while international speakers will deliver sessions from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM IST. One lecture — Lecture 05 — has been scheduled on Monday, , from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, to accommodate a distinguished speaker.
Key details include:
- Duration: 8 weeks; 4 hours/week (Total 32 hours)
- Dates: 12.09.2026 to
- Schedule: Weekend sessions on Saturday and Sunday
- Timings: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM IST; 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM IST
- Attendance: Minimum 75% mandatory
- Certificate: Awarded on successful completion of all components, including an online assessment examination on
- Fee: ₹10,000 for all participants; full fee payable at registration and non-refundable
- Registration Window: to
Recordings of the sessions will remain accessible for three months, allowing participants to revise at their own pace. The course will conclude with a hybrid closing session delivered by the Executive Director of , with participants able to attend either online or in person at the campus.
A Faculty Drawn from the Bench, Bar and Forensics
The course brings together a distinguished teaching panel spanning the judiciary, senior bar, institutions and international academia. The faculty includes Prof. (Dr.) GS Bajpai, Vice Chancellor of ; Justice J.R. Midha, former Judge of the ; Senior Advocates , , , and ; and Supreme Court Advocate , who also serves as Executive Director of .
The list further includes Dr. Seema Kaul Singh, Director, ; Dr. Shailesh Kumar of ; Prof. Dr. Anneke Petzsche of the ; Dr. G.K. Goswami, Founder Director of the ; Dr. Pupul Dutta Prasad, Inspector General at the and Honorary Director, ; and , Managing Partner at . The organisers have clarified that the speaker lineup may change in the event of exigent circumstances.
Beyond Doctrine: Skills for Litigation and Policy
The course is designed to cover the theoretical, constitutional, procedural, forensic, comparative and reform dimensions of in a single structured programme. Participants will study constitutional foundations, , , and the role of in capital cases. The teaching model deliberately places doctrine and practice together, so that learners understand not only why the law operates as it does, but also how to apply that understanding in real legal work.
According to , the programme will give participants “the doctrinal knowledge and the practical skills necessary for advisory, litigation, research and policy work in this field.” This integrated approach is especially valuable for lawyers preparing to appear in matters, where the quality of investigation, record-building and advocacy can shape the outcome at trial and on appeal.
Why This Course Matters for the Criminal Justice System
Structured education on is not merely an academic exercise. For defence lawyers, the stakes are existential: the decision to impose the often turns on the presentation of , the reliability of forensic testimony, and the effectiveness of . Specialised training can improve the quality of representation and help build a pool of practitioners who are prepared for the procedural and ethical complexity of capital cases.
The course is also relevant for prosecutors, judges, researchers and policymakers. A deeper understanding of comparative practice, international human rights standards and forensic limitations can contribute to more informed decisions across the criminal justice system. As India moves through a period of significant criminal law reform, such training can help ensure that the administration of the remains consistent with and evolving .
Who Should Enrol
has deliberately left eligibility broad. The programme is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students, legal practitioners, professionals, academics, students, researchers and anyone with a strong interest in the criminal justice system. This cross-disciplinary admission policy reflects the reality that intersects with law, forensics, psychology, criminology and public policy.
For students, the course offers an opportunity to learn directly from practitioners and academics engaged in the field. For established professionals, it offers a structured way to update their knowledge and develop practical skills for advisory and litigation work. For researchers and policy professionals, the comparative and reform dimensions of the curriculum may open new avenues for scholarship and advocacy.
Registration and Certification
Registration opens on and closes on . The course fee is ₹10,000 for all participants and must be paid in full at the time of registration. Once paid, the fee is non-refundable. A certificate will be awarded on successful completion of all components, including the online assessment examination to be held on .
The course coordinator is Ms Radhika Bhadri, Academic Fellow at . The course team also includes Project Manager Mr Piyush Arya and Litigation-cum-Research Associate Ms Sruti Chandran. Prospective applicants can contact directly for additional information through its published channels.
Conclusion
The launch of this certificate course marks a significant step in professionalising practice in India. By combining an eminent faculty, a structured curriculum and weekend accessibility, has created a meaningful opportunity for legal professionals and students to develop both legal doctrine and courtroom craft. For anyone working in criminal law, the course offers a rare chance to study holistically — from constitutional principle to forensic practice and policy reform.
