The Indian Law Institute (ILI) is a deemed-to-be university and legal research institution based in New Delhi, India. Established in 1956, it was founded with the principal objective of cultivating and promoting the systematic study of law, advancing legal research, and contributing to the reform of law in India. The institute holds the status of a deemed university and offers post-graduate and research programmes in law.
| Indian Law Institute | |
|---|---|
| Type | Deemed university; legal research institute |
| Established | 1956 |
| Location | New Delhi, India |
| Focus | Legal research, education, and law reform |
| Affiliation | Deemed-to-be university (recognised by the University Grants Commission) |
Background
The Indian Law Institute was set up at a time when independent India was developing its own legal framework and academic infrastructure. It was conceived as a forum where judges, lawyers, academics, and policymakers could collaborate on legal scholarship. The institute is headquartered on Bhagwan Das Road, near the Supreme Court of India, which reflects its close functional links with the senior judiciary and the bar.
Academic and research activities
The institute conducts academic programmes including a Master of Laws (LL.M.) and doctoral research (Ph.D.) in law. It also offers post-graduate diploma courses in specialised areas such as alternative dispute resolution, intellectual property rights, cyber law, and corporate law. In addition to teaching, ILI undertakes commissioned research, organises seminars and conferences, and contributes to law reform initiatives in collaboration with government bodies and the judiciary.
Publications
The Indian Law Institute publishes scholarly journals and books on Indian and comparative law. Its periodicals include the Journal of the Indian Law Institute, a peer-reviewed publication that has carried legal scholarship since the institute's early years, and the Annual Survey of Indian Law, which reviews developments in various branches of Indian law each year.
Library
The institute maintains a specialised law library that serves its students, researchers, and members. The collection covers Indian statutes, case law, treatises, and foreign and international legal materials, supporting the institute's research mission.
Governance
The institute functions as a registered society and is governed by a Governing Council. The Chief Justice of India has traditionally been associated with the institute in a leadership capacity, reflecting the close relationship between ILI and the higher judiciary. Day-to-day administration is led by a Director, who is supported by faculty and research staff.
Significance
As one of the earliest dedicated legal research institutions in independent India, the Indian Law Institute has played a notable role in shaping legal education and scholarship in the country. Its publications are widely cited in academic writing and judicial decisions, and its diploma programmes have provided continuing legal education to practitioners across India.
Related topics
- Legal education in India
- Supreme Court of India
- Bar Council of India
- University Grants Commission (India)
- National Law Universities
- Law Commission of India
References
- Wikidata entry: Q6020889