Theory has never invited hostility, nor has practice imagined that it would be celebrated merely because it appears accessible. Despite persistent attempts to deny the tensions between monism and dualism, idealism often insists upon their continuation. It is against this intellectual backdrop that the Centre for Jurisprudence and Legal Theory (CJLT) at the National Law Institute University, Bhopal seeks to ignite rigorous scholarship in Jurisprudence and Legal Theory. The Centre aims to cultivate sustained interest in foundational legal thought, challenge the misplaced perception of jurisprudence as inherently abstruse, and push the boundaries of existing knowledge. Rooted in the belief that everything which is a human construct is ultimately intelligible to human beings, CJLT endeavours to simplify, amplify, and meaningfully signify the objectives and scope of jurisprudence. It further seeks to disseminate philosophical and scientific theories that shape the methods of answering questions seeking truth about law, while also addressing its interstices and silences.
National Law Institute University, Bhopal (NLIU), within which CJLT is situated, is a public law university and a constituent of the National Law University system. Established in 1997 by the State of Madhya Pradesh as the second institution of its kind in India, with academic operations commencing in 1998, NLIU was conceived on the visionary proposal of Justice J.S. Verma and established through the National Law Institute University Act, 1997 (subsequently substituted by the Act of 2018). Over the years, the University has emerged as one of India’s most prestigious centres for legal education and research. A member of the Association of Indian Universities, with the Chief Justice of India serving as its Visitor, NLIU maintains close institutional engagement with the High Court of Madhya Pradesh and the National Judicial Academy. Through its sustained emphasis on rigorous scholarship, interdisciplinary inquiry, and institutional excellence, NLIU provides a fertile intellectual environment within which centres such as CJLT continue to contribute meaningfully to the evolution of legal education, research, and jurisprudential discourse in India.