Judicial Wisdom Meets Legal Academia: Ex-CJI U.U. Lalit Joins BITS Law School Faculty
(By: Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
Hyderabad, September 22, 2025 — In a significant academic development, BITS Law School has announced the appointment of former Chief Justice of India, Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, as Honorary Professor of Law. The move marks a major milestone in the institution’s commitment to fostering excellence in legal education and thought leadership.
Justice Lalit, who served as the 49th Chief Justice of India, brings decades of judicial experience and constitutional insight to the classroom. As part of his new role, he will engage deeply with the academic community at BITS Law School through mentoring, collaborative research, teaching, and curriculum development. His involvement is expected to enrich the intellectual environment of the institution and inspire a new generation of legal scholars and practitioners.
One of the key highlights of his academic engagement will be the introduction of an advanced course titled Affirmative Action under the Constitution of India and Other Jurisdictions. This course will be part of the school’s flagship Law and Public Good series, which aims to explore the intersection of legal frameworks and societal transformation.
The course, designed and taught by Justice Lalit, will offer a comparative perspective on affirmative action policies across the globe. It will delve into India’s constitutional provisions and judicial interpretations on affirmative action, while also examining parallel frameworks and landmark cases from jurisdictions such as the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Students will be encouraged to critically analyze the philosophical foundations, legal mechanisms, and socio-political impacts of affirmative action in diverse democratic contexts.
Speaking on the appointment, the leadership at BITS Law School expressed pride in welcoming Justice Lalit, noting that his presence would significantly elevate the institution’s academic stature and global engagement. His course is expected to attract wide interest from students, researchers, and policy thinkers keen on understanding the evolving dynamics of equality, representation, and justice in constitutional democracies.
Justice Lalit’s association with BITS Law School reflects a growing trend of judicial luminaries contributing to legal education, bridging the gap between courtroom experience and classroom discourse. His mentorship is poised to leave a lasting imprint on the school’s academic ethos and its mission to shape socially conscious legal professionals.
With this appointment, BITS Law School continues to position itself as a hub for transformative legal education, rooted in constitutional values and global perspectives.
