On 25th April 2025, Apradhshastra: Centre for Criminology and Criminal Law, a student-led initiative at the India International University of Legal Education and Research (IIULER) – launched its first event, formally inaugurated by our Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) Venkata Rao Rambhatla. He shared that “Children are like flowers; if they wilt, the garden that is our society suffers,” reminding us of our collective duty to nurture youth—especially in an age where digital connectivity often coexists with emotional detachment.
This milestone event featured the lecture: “Fractured Beginnings: Contextualizing Youth Crime in the Contemporary World.”
Our keynote speaker, Advocate Stuti Rai, a seasoned criminal lawyer with years of experience in capital punishment and terror cases, led a compelling session. In conversation with Asst. Prof. Saloni Goyal, they unpacked the fundamentals of criminology, the juvenile justice system’s impact on adolescents, and the importance of rehabilitation over retribution. They also stressed upon need to focus on prevention and to explore more sensitive, context-specific solutions in India.
Drawing from the Netflix series Adolescence, they posed the poignant question: “What happened to Jamie that he had to do something like this?”—using it to reflect on how social, psychological, and digital factors intertwine to influence youth behavior and violence in India.
We were also privileged to hear from Dr. Reshma Suresh, Assistant Professor at VIT Chennai School of Law (VITSOL), whose thought-provoking reflections deepened the discussion further.
This event could not have been possible without the support and guidance of our Faculty-in-Charge, Asst. Prof. (Dr.) Aswathy Madhukumar and Asst. Prof. Saloni Goyal, whose leadership continues to steer Apradhshastra's vision.
As we reflect on this session, we’re reminded that, “Justice is not only about punishment, but about healing and hope.”
This belief guides Apradhshastra as it journeys forward.
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