Ganderbal: The Department of Law at the Central University of Kashmir organized a one-day consultative workshop focused on “Constitutional Reforms and Marginalized Groups: A Socio-Legal Analysis in Reorganized Jammu and Kashmir,” supported by an ICSSR-funded Major Research Project.
Dr. Gulafroz Jan, Assistant Professor, opened the workshop by highlighting the importance of analyzing constitutional reforms and their effects on marginalized communities following the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir. Prof. Farooq Ahmad Mir, Head and Dean of the School of Legal Studies, discussed the constitutional dynamics and legal perspectives in the region, identifying various marginalized groups such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, minorities, persons with disabilities, transgender individuals, and economically weaker sections. He emphasized the constitutional protections available to these groups and the welfare initiatives introduced by the Central Government aimed at their empowerment. The keynote address was delivered by Prof. (Dr.)
Arvind Jasrotia, Project Director of the ICSSR Major Research Project, who provided an overview of the project’s objectives. He underscored the necessity for evidence-based socio-legal research to evaluate the impact of constitutional reforms on marginalized communities, advocating for academic research to guide policy-making and foster inclusive governance. Dr. Javaid Rasheed, Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of Kashmir, presented on the challenges and prospects of social inclusion for marginalized communities in the post-reorganization context. He highlighted the socio-economic difficulties these groups face and the critical need for community participation and targeted policy measures to achieve equitable development and social justice. Additionally, Dr. Gulafroz Jan presented a research paper examining the statutory safeguards for marginalized communities, focusing on the evolving legal framework and assessing the effectiveness of these protections in advancing their rights and socio-economic status.
