1ST CCJHR NATIONAL ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION ON BNSS

About The Centre For Criminal Justice and Human Rights, NLUO

The Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights (CCJHR) at National Law University Odisha is dedicated to research, discussion, and policy engagement on issues at the intersection of criminal law and human rights. The Centre aims to contribute to contemporary debates on criminal justice reform in India by facilitating academic inquiry, capacity building, and student-led initiatives.

About The Competition

The 1st CCJHR National Essay Writing Competition seeks to encourage analytical engagement with the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which replaces the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The competition invites participants to examine the structural, procedural, and technological changes introduced under the BNSS and their impact on India’s criminal justice system.

The competition is open to undergraduate and postgraduate law students across India.

Brochure

Theme

“The Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023: Reimagining Criminal Justice in Contemporary India”

Sub-Themes (Indicative)

• BNSS vs. CrPC – Continuity or Change?
• Speedy Trials under BNSS – Aspiration vs. Reality
• Presumption of Innocence in the Age of Media Trials
• Powers of Police under BNSS
• Victim Empowerment in BNSS
• Technology in Criminal Justice under BNSS: From e-FIRs to Digital Evidence

Submission Guidelines & Registration Details

Formatting & Manuscript Requirements

• No identifying information (name, institution, etc.) should appear in the manuscript.
• Co-authorship permitted up to two authors.
• The official cover page (provided upon registration) must be attached.
• Word Limit: 1000 – 1500 words (excluding footnotes, index, bibliography).
• Font: Times New Roman.
• Font Size: 12 for headings and body; 10 for footnotes.
• Spacing: 1.5 (body); 1.0 (footnotes).
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides.
• Citation Style: OSCOLA.
• Speaking footnotes allowed up to 50 words each.
• Plagiarism limit: Maximum 10 percent as per UGC norms.
• AI-generated content is prohibited.

Registration & Submission

• Registration must be completed through the Google Form:
  https://forms.gle/UCF3NAygqCFb6Vd9A
• The registration fee is to be paid viaICICI Collect (Refer to the Payment Guidelines for the process and fee details)
• Participants will receive aTeam Code after registration, which must be used for the submission.
• Last Date for Registration:December 21, 2025
• Submission Deadline:December 31, 2025

Prize Pool

• 1^st Position: ₹8,000
• 2^nd Position: ₹5,000
• 3^rd Position: ₹3,000

Contact Details

Email: ccjhr@nluo.ac.in
Phone: +91 98453 53404 / +91 72177 56565