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