Call for Abstracts | National Conference on Freedom of Speech & Expression by St. Joseph’s College of Law: Submit by Mar 15

About St. Joseph’s College of Law

St. Joseph’s College of Law is approved by the Bar Council of India (BCI), New Delhi, and affiliated with Karnataka State Law University, Hubbali established in 2017-2018, SJCL is the First Jesuit Law College in South Asia. It emphasizes a commitment to legal education that serves justice and fairness in society.

About the Conference

This national conference provides an academic platform for students, researchers, and legal professionals to present original papers on the evolving dimensions of Freedom of Speech and Expression in India and across the world. The event aims to promote research-driven discussions on constitutional rights, digital speech, public order, and the responsibilities that accompany free expression.

Participants will present their work before an expert panel comprising academicians, practitioners, and subject-matter specialists.

Themes and Sub-Themes

Conference Theme

“Balancing Liberty, Dissent & Public Order in Contemporary India”

The theme focuses on constitutional foundations, judicial developments, and modern challenges such as algorithmic influence, hate speech, and social media regulation.

Suggested Paper Presentation Sub-Themes

1. Constitutional philosophy of Article 19(1)(a)
2. Hate speech vs. Freedom of Speech and Expression
3. Freedom of press, academic freedom & artistic expression
4. Misinformation, censorship & digital surveillance
5. Free speech under the new criminal laws (BNS, BNSS, BSS)
6. Online anonymity, privacy & State regulation
7. Comparative constitutional analysis: India and other democracies
8. Dissent, protests & the shrinking civic space
9. Role of AI, platforms & algorithmic moderation in shaping speech

(Participants may also present on any related topic within the broad theme.)

 About Call For Papers

The Authors: Academicians, Jurists, Social Scientists, Professionals, Analyst, Researchers, Students, Activists, Entrepreneurs, etc., National or International are invited to contribute an original paper on the theme. The articles shall be blind peer-reviewed and plagiarism checked before publication after the conference is conducted. The authors are suggested to send their creative with not more than 10 percent similarity as per UGC rules.

Eligibility

The conference is open to:

• Academicians: Scholars from law, social sciences, and gender studies.
• Legal Practitioners: Lawyers, judges, and advocates.
• Students: Law students, research scholars, and others interested in gender issues.
• Activists and NGOs: Representatives from gender rights organizations.
• Government Representatives: Policy professionals and legal reformers working on gender-related policies.

Presentation Mode

• In-Person Presentation: All participants based in Bengaluru are required to attend the conference in person.
• Hybrid Option: Participants residing outside Bengaluru can opt for online presentations.

Guidelines for Submission of Papers

• All entries should be submitted electronically in .doc or .docx format.
• All manuscripts must be accompanied by: A cover letter with the name(s) of the author(s), designation, institution/affiliation, the title of the manuscript, and contact information (Correspondence address, E-Mail ID, Phone Number, etc.).
• Abstract and manuscript file name should be named as follows: Manuscript_Jaishankar
• The papers should be sent via email on [email protected].
• Subject Line for Submission: “Submission-Conference on Freedom of Speech and Expression 2026”.
• Maximum of two authors per paper. Both authors must register individually.
• Abstracts should be a maximum of 250 words with at least 5 keywords.
• Final paper submissions should be between 2500 to 3000 words.
• Manuscripts should be in English and checked for grammatical accuracy.
• All submissions should be in Times New Roman with a font size of 12. Headings should be in capital letters with a font size of 16, subheadings should be in font size 14. Furthermore, the footnotes will be in font size 10. The main text should be spaced 1.5 lines apart, while the footnotes should be spaced 1.0
• The accepted referencing style is Harvard Bluebook 20th Edition.
• Participants unable to attend in person can present their papers online. The organizers will share necessary details with accepted authors.

Please note that the registration fee should only be paid after receiving the acceptance email for your paper. If anyone makes the payment before their paper is accepted and it is subsequently not accepted, the organizers will not be responsible for refunding the amount.

Important Dates

• The last date for Submission of full paper with abstract is March 15^th, 2026.
• Intimation of Selection of Papers for Presentation by April 5^th, 2026.
• Last Date of Registration and Payment of Fee April 15^th, 2026.
• Date of Conference April 24^th, 2026.

Certificates and Rewards

• Best Paper Awards: Recognizing outstanding contributions and giving Cash Prizes.
• Participation and Presentation Certificates: To be provided to all participants.
• Paper Publication: Upon the conclusion of the conference, selected papers will undergo a review process and be published.

Registration Details

External Participants

• Paper Presenters: ₹ 500 per paper (co-author need not pay additional fees).
• Attendees: ₹ 500 per person.

SJCL Students

• Paper Presenters– 100 Rs (co-author need not pay additional fees).

Note: The registration link will be shared only after the paper is selected and the acceptance is communicated to the authors.

Contact Information

Email- [email protected]

The brochure is here.