About Us

The Centre is a vibrant community of scholars who are teachers; doctoral, postgraduate and undergraduate students.

Amita Dhanda

Photo of Dr. Amita Dhanda

Dr. Amita Dhanda Professor of Law and Head Centre for Disability Studies has a substantive interest in the field of public law and human rights with special reference to disability rights. Her doctoral thesis which critically appraised the laws relating to the mentally ill in India was the first effort in the country evaluating the human rights conformity of mental health laws. The thesis was later brought out as a book entitled "Legal Order and Mental Disorder".

Dr. Dhanda actively engaged in the work of the United Nations Ad Hoc Committee negotiating the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Her research work significantly informed the deliberations on legal capacity. Since then she has been writing and researching extensively to bring the Indian Disability Law in harmony with the UNCRPD.

Amongst her recent writings are:

  • With Gabor Gombos Catalyzing Self Advocacy in India ( Bapu Trust 2009)
  • Legal Capacity in the CRPD (Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights Jan 2010)
  • Edited with Rajive Raturi Harmonizing Indian Laws with UNCRPD (May 2010)
  • A CRPD Evaluation of Indian Mental Health Laws (Ministry of Health June 2010)

Her forthcoming books

  • With Gabor Gombos UNCRPD Think Globally Act Locally is a process oriented study of the Convention (OUP New Delhi)
  • And Legal Order and Mental Disorder examines the impact of the Convention on mental health laws (Sage New Delhi)

Nilesh Singit

Photo of Nilesh Singit

Nilesh Singit the Research and Advocacy Officer at the Centre has a Masters degree in English from University of Bombay, and has completed a postgraduate degree course in Human Rights. He has over 12 years experience in the field of disability with a special focus on access audits, accessibility and inclusive design, disability diversity/equality/rights training and research into disability issues. He has been instrumental in filing several public interest actions in the Mumbai High Court as also in monitoring due compliance of the orders of the Court . He is also a Zonal Technical Resource Trainer [ZTRT] conducting trainings for National Trust, India in Maharashtra and Goa.

Neha A. Pathakji

Photo of Neha Pathakji

Neha Pathakji Assistant Professor of Law specializes in the field of Taxation and Corporate Law and has a special interest in exploring the interface between corporate governance and financial responsibility. Neha Pathakji is presently exploring the inextricable connections between corporate social responsibility and accessibility rights of persons with disabilities. She is especially studying how intellectual property laws would need to alter to prevent the virtual exclusion of persons with disabilities.

Smitha. S

Photo of Smitha. S

Smitha. S is a UGC-Junior Research Fellow and is pursuing her Doctoral thesis "Disability Selective Abortions and Rights of Persons with Disability: A Study in Contradictions" under the guidance of Dr. Amita Dhanda. Prior to taking on full time research Ms Smitha was a practicing lawyer at Kerala High Court.

V.S.Padma

Photo of V.S.Padma

Administrative Officer, is B Com from Osmania University with more than ten years of experience of working with non governmental and governmental authorities. She both facilitates and coordinates the various activities of the Centre; hence any linking up with the Centre is best started with writing to her.

Online Community