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NALSAR UNIVERSITY OF LAW

Accredited in 'A++' grade with a score of 3.52 on a four point scale by NAAC in Cycle 2

Murali Karnam - Human Rights

Murali Karnam is the Professor of Human Rights and the Director of Access to Justice Program

He began his academic life in political science but migrated to interdisciplinary areas of politics and law. He has a Ph.D. from the department of political science of the University of Hyderabad, after writing a dissertation, on the colonial history of the Indian penal system. After spending a decade advocating for prison reforms and prisoners’ rights, he joined the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai in 2013. He has been teaching at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad since 2018.

Professor Murali Karnam has two intellectual interests—political theory and penal system. He teaches political theory, penal law and researches issues of penal system; preventive and pre-trial detentions. He runs a Prison Legal Aid Clinic with the support of students.

As the director of the Access to Justice Program, he runs a field office and supervises a team of advocates, prison social workers and research associates focussing on providing qualitative legal aid to prisoners.

He believes theory without practice is empty and practice without theory is pedantic. 

LLB; M. A (Political Science); M. Phil (Caste Violence in Andhra Pradesh), PhD (Prisons, Prisoners’ Rights and Politics of Reformation)

Research Interests:

Professor Murali Karnam has been researching on issues of human rights and Indian penal system. He has published 3 manuals on conditions of prisons in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. He has extensively researched the history of the penal system and published a number of articles on prison practices in national journals. He has also contributed materials for E-Pathasala on fundamental rights, role of judiciary and quasi-judicial institutions in the protection of human rights. The conditions of human rights in conflict zones is one of the areas of his publication and research interest. Recently he has completed a major research project on the efficacy of Open Prisons conducted in 7 states of India. He has also completed two research projects on practices of preventive detentions in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He regularly contributes to regional and national newspapers on the issues of human rights and penal system. 

Latest Research completed:

 

2024:

  1. Annual Survey of Laws in Andhra Pradesh to be published by NALSAR University of Law.

2022

  1. A research project on the “Functioning and Impact of Open Prisons in India’ sponsored by Bureau of Police Research and Development, Government of India” submitted in November 2022.
  2. A research project titled “Preventive Detentions in Andhra Pradesh: An Instrument of State against Personal Liberty” completed and submitted to Thakur Foundation in July 2022.

2020

  1. A research on “Abuse of Power: Implementation of Preventive Detention Acts in Telangana”: funded by Thakur Family Foundation for January to May 2020. The research report is completed and submitted.
  2. Dr. Murali Karnam has lead a research study and brought out a report titled “A Study Report of the NALSAR University of Law on the Conditions and Reformative Activities in the Prisons of Telangana State”. The study was commissioned by Telangana State Legal Services Authority (TSLSA) on suggestion of Supreme Court of India. The study was began in September 2018 within 3 months.

Research Articles :

  1. 2018: Enforcement of Fundamental Rights and Custodial Justice in Module: M-16 in E-Pathasala Material Paper: P-09. Criminal Justice and Human Rights https://youtu.be/4UsJmeHWdrI
  2. Promotion and Protection of Human Rights: Role of National and State Human Rights Commissions in India in Module: M-17 in E-Pathasala Material Paper: P-09. Criminal Justice and Human Rights:https://youtu.be/Yz7gRx2al7k
  3. Role of Supreme Court in Enforcement of Fundamental Rights or Human Rights in India in Module: M-18 in E-Pathasala Material Paper: P-09. Criminal Justice and Human Rights: https://youtu.be/kRFcIj0vCas
  4. 2011    Conflict Resolution: Learning lessons from dialogue process in India: Talks between Maoists and the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 2004: Delhi Policy Group and Humanitarian Dialogue, Geneva: https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/131093/Conflict%20resolution%20in%20India.pdf
  5. 2010    Conditions of Detention in the Prisons of Karnataka, 2007-08. New Delhi: Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative http://humanrightsinitiative.org/publications/prisons/conditions_of_detention_in_the_prisons_of_karnataka.pdf
  6. 2006    Andhra Pradesh Prisons: Behind Closed Doors. New Delhi: Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative: http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/publications/prisons/ap_prison_behind_closed_door.pdf
  7. 2009 Deaths in Prisons in Andhra Pradesh, Economic and Political Weekly, 14 March​​
    https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/40278607.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A763467027895c0aed35574c94fe9f0d3

 

  1. “Telangana Must Announce a Humane Prison Reform Policy” https://thewire.in/rights/telangana-must-announce-a-humane-prison-reform-policy
  2. Podcast on Building a Humane Prison in India: A Case for Reform: A Conversation between Prof. Murali Karnam and Somesh Goel, IPS (retd). 4 May 2022 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/72-building-a-humane-prisons-in-india-a-case/id1540074396?i=1000568640609
  3. Peer reviewed research: “Why Prison Reforms Fail Women Offenders in India? For the Journal of Social Change, of Sage Publications in May 2022.
  4. A Book review of the Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow: Published as a Sunday editorial in leading Telugu Daily Andhra Jyothi on 18 September 2022. https://m.andhrajyothy.com/telugunews/is-inequality-a-stepping-stone-to-civilization-ngts-editorial-1822091112154479
  5. A debate on Social Background of Lawmakers and it impact governance: Published in Sunday editorial page in leading Telugu Daily Andhra Jyothi on 2 October 2022. https://m.andhrajyothy.com/telugunews/shall-we-pretend-that-our-glorious-glory-is-unblemished-ngts-editorial-182210020113373
  6. An edit page article in Telugu Daily Andhra Jyothi on Human Rights Defender Dr. Balagopal on his 13th death anniversary dated 8-10-2022.
  7. https://epaper.andhrajyothy.com/Home/FullPage?eid=34&edate=08/10/2022&pgid=261620

2021

  1.  Opinion: Rights: How New Is the Threat to Individual Freedom in India? https://thewire.in/rights/india-preventive-detention-laws-freedom 16th Feb 2021.
  2. Prison Perspectives: A Book Review of “Fractured Freedom: A Prison Memoir” by Kobad Ghandy, published by Biblio: A Review of Books: https://biblio-india.org/articles/BiblioAJ21_art17.pdf April-June 2021. ISSN No. 0971-8982. 
  3. Labour Laws: What is being done in the name of National Economy? May 2020 https://m.thewire.in/author/Murali-Karnam
  4. Losing out on the right to privacy in the public domain in the name of surveillance: October 2020
    Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/losing-out-on-the-right-to-privacy-in-the-public-domain-in-the-name-of-surveillance-903156.html
  5. Why it won’t be easy to end custodial violence in India: June 2020
    Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/why-it-won-t-be-easy-to-end-custodial-violence-in-india-855008.htm
  6. Edit page article in Telugu on the Constitutional Status of Working Class in India: https://epaper.andhrajyothy.com/m5/2710414/Telangana/12-06-2020#page/4/1
  7. 2017: Prisons Escape Law: Not Prisoners, in PUCL Bulletin March 2017:
    http://www.pucl.org/bulletins/2017/PUCLmar2017.pdf
  8.  2016: “Implementation of MGNREGA: Top down Design without Accountability Local Governance in India” in Experiences after the Constitutional Amendments ed by   E. Venkatesu (ISBN 10, ISBN13: 9351282023, 9789351282020.
  9. 2016: Conditions of Undertrials in India, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 51, no.13, 26 March.
    https://www.epw.in/system/files/pdf/2016_51/13/Condition_of_Undertrials_in_India_0.pdf
  10. 2016: Prosecution as persecution, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 51, no. 3, 16 January.
    http://www.epw.in/search/site/Prosecution%20as%20Persecution
  11. 2016: “Unpreparedness of the Criminal Justice System, Deccan Herald, dated Oct 7:            
    http://www.deccanherald.com/content/574490/unpreparedness-criminal-justice-delivery-system.html.
  12. 2016: “Why We All Need a Reminder about Prisoners’ Rights” dated September 27:            
    http://thewire.in/68621/why-we-all-need-a-reminder-about-prisoners-rights/.
  13. 2016: “Custodial violence: How police underplay their actions” March 14:
    http://www.deccanherald.com/content/534310/custodial-violence-  police-underplay-their.html.
  14. 2015: “No curbs, let prisons be an open book affair”. September 3:
    http://www.deccanherald.com/content/498765/no-curbs-let-prisons-open.html.
  15. 2015: Policing as an instrument to achieve social equality ideals June 11,
    http://www.deccanherald.com/content/482747/policing-instrument-achieve-social-equality.html.
  16. 2015: By limiting media access to jails, India is trampling on the rights of all citizens,
    http://scroll.in/article/749206/by-limiting-media-access-to-jails-india-is-       trampling-on-the-rights-of-all-citizens.
  17. 2015: Equality before Law: http://www.frontierweekly.com/articles/vol-47/47-30/47-30-Equalit%20before%20Law.html. 1st February
  18. 2015: A Decade of RTI: How implementation of the law has weakened people's political power” November 23: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/column-a-decade-of-rti-how-implementation-of-the-law-has-weakened-people-s-political-power 2148318.
  19. 2015: Equality before Law: Frontier Vol 47, No. 30, Febe 1-7. http://www.frontierweekly.com/archive/vol-number/vol/vol-47-2014-15/47-30/47-30-Equality%20before%20Law.html
  20. 2013: Report on Communal Violence in Muzzafarnagar, Uttar Pradesh https://www.academia.edu/10149785/Report_on_the_Muzaffarnagar_Riots_of_2013?auto=download
  21. 2005: A Handbook for Prison Visitors in Telugu. New Delhi: Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.  http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/publications/prisons/handbook_for_prison_visitors_in_telgu.pdf
  22. 2008 Lashes of Hunger in Prisons, Combat Law, vol. 7: 2, March-April.
  23. 2008 Video Linkage Leaves Prisoners in Cold, Combat Law, vol. 7: 2, March-April.
  24. 2008 Hunger Strike in AP Jail, Combat Law, vol. 7: 2, March-April.
  25. 2006 Institutional Apathy towards Undertrial Prisoners, Economic and Political Weekly, 16 September. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/4418697.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A921e4d293e45d89c52f275fa6884f008
  26. 2004 Andhra Pradesh: Premature Release of Prisoners, Economic and Political Weekly,
    1. 25 September- 1 October. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/4415583.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A02ffc2aeba9e7ce941b5d71fcd0bfe27
  27. 2003 Reporting Human Rights Work. Hyderabad: Center for World Solidarity.  
  28. 2003 New Government and Old Ways, Combat Law, vol2: 4, October-November.
  29. 2002 Andhra Pradesh: Continuing Militancy, Economic and Political weekly, 23 February-1 March. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/4411766.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A453c6999730c356f940dd754020d9107
  • Development of e-content

Annual Refresh Program in Teaching (ARPIT): AICTE Approved FDP course

Module 4 | Intersections in Criminal law

  1. Conceptual Underpinnings of Criminal Law;https://onlinecourses.swayam2.ac.in/arp20_ap08/unit?unit=29&lesson=30
  2. Philosophical Justifications of Criminal Law;https://onlinecourses.swayam2.ac.in/arp20_ap08/unit?unit=29&lesson=31
  3. Critical Teaching of Criminal Law: https://onlinecourses.swayam2.ac.in/arp20_ap08/unit?unit=29&lesson=35

 

  1. Made a presentation on Human Rights Courts in National Universal Periodic Review organized by Peoples Watch in New Delhi January 2014
  2. Conference on Legal Aid in Criminal Defence organized by NLU D on 18 March 2023.
  3. State, society and law: Celebrating TK Oommen International Conference on State and Society in Contemporary India: 26 March 2022, at NALSAR University: The Theme: Preventive Detention Law as State of Exception, the case of Telangana
  4. “Combatting Impunity for Extrajudicial Executions in Asia” organized by International Commission of Jurists: Advocates for Justice and Human Rights on 11, 18, 25 of September 2021. 
  5. 7th National Conference of Heads of Prisons of all States and Union Territory organized by Bureau of Police Research and Development, New Delhi on 6 and 7th of October 2021. The Theme: “Decadal Road Map for Prisons and Correctional Services”
  6. Keynote address delivered on Constitutional values and Fundamental Principles of Indian Constitution on 26th November 2020 at National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj-Hyderabad
  7. Taught criminology and penology (15 hours) in Refresher Training Program in January and Feb 2020 at State Institute of Correctional Services-Hyderabad.
  8. Taught Criminal laws, human rights and penology (15 hours) in May-July 2020 at State Institute of Correctional Services-Hyderabad
  9. Taught Sociological Theories of Crime and Social Control, Practical Psychology and Ethics in Policing, Contemporary trends in crimes in India, History of Prison reforms, role of NHRC and Supreme Court in the protection of human rights, policing attitude in democracy are the themes taught (15 hours) Trainee Sub-Inspectors and IPS trainees at Telangana State Police Academy (TAPS) in April and June 2020.
  10. Presentation on “Unnatural Deaths in Prisons in India” in National Training on Prisoners’ Rights for Lawyers, organized by Centre for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Law Network and National Legal Services Authority, New Delhi at Jindal Global Law School on 29 and 30 of June and 1 of July 2018.
  11. Participated in “Child Rights and Human Rights Lawyering” organized by Human Rights Law Network from 28th April to 1st May 2018 at Palampur, Himachal Pradesh.
  12. Participated in the Conference on "Aesthetics and the Political in Contemporary India: Deleuzian Explorations" on February 13-17, 2017 at TISS, Mumbai.
  13. Gave a talk the theme: Social Vs Legal: Understanding the Violence on Dalits in India at National Law School, Delhi on 1 March 2017.
  14. Made a presentation in the Consultation on Prison Reforms organized by Department of Justice, Government of India, New Delhi on 28th February 2017.
  15. Taught one module of one credit on Public Policy and Governance Reform in Barefoot Academy of Governance Reform of TISS between 10-12 February 2017.
  16. Taught Philosophy of Human Rights and Justice on 11th and 13th March 2017 in Academic Staff College of Osmania University, Hyderabad.
  17. Keynote Address on 'Perspective on Human Rights Education” in Workshop organized by SRTM University of Nanded on 23rd March 2017.
  18. Keynote address on Social Justice and Implementation of SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 2015 on 30th November 2016, organized by Social Welfare Department of Government of Maharashtra in TISS.
  19. Attended one month training programme on Theory/Praxis from 6th June to 5th July 2016: Organized by Forum for Contemporary Theory, Vadodara and Department of Philosophy, University of Hyderabad.
  20. Keynote Address On Constitutional Day on 26th November 2015 in SDM Law College Mangalore.
  21. Taught theories of Human Rights and Justice in Refresher Course on Human Rights on January 9-13, 2015 at Maulana Azad Urdu University, Hyderabad
  22. Attended Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights on Dec 9-10 2014 at Jaipur
  1. Comparative Constitutional Law
  2. Philosophy of Human Rights and Criminal Justice System
  3. Criminal Law
  4. Political Theory

Prof. Murali Karnam
Professor of Human Rights and Director of Access to Justice
NALSAR University of Law
Post Box No.1,
Justice City, Shameerpet, Malkajigiri-Medchal District,
Hyderabad - 500078, Telangana

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 9866479775