New Delhi: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and DAKSH Society, Bengaluru have signed an MoU to establish the DAKSH Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Law and Technology at IIT Delhi.

The MoU was signed by Prof V. Ramgopal Rao, Director, IIT Delhi and Shri Surya Prakash BS, Programme Director, DAKSH Society, Bengaluru. Both the institutions have agreed to collaborate while recognising each other’s strengths in research and education and mutual interests in Technology, Engineering, Management and Law. The CoE will conduct inter-disciplinary research on various aspects of the justice system and build solutions drawing from fields such as Operations Research, data analytics, technology and law, to improve its effectiveness. DAKSH Society, Bengaluru, a non-profit organisation set up in 2008, undertakes research and activities to promote accountability and better governance in India and has done extensive work on judicial reforms since 2015.

Speaking of the MoU with IIT Delhi, Shri Surya Prakash BS, Programme Director, DAKSH, said, “This is an exciting partnership that will provide independent, non-partisan interdisciplinary research to address the most pressing issues in the justice system. We hope that the CoE will become a hub for innovative research and implementation models for the justice system. A formal launch event is being planned and will be held soon.”

Prof V. Ramgopal Rao, Director, IIT Delhi, said, “This is the beginning of a long-standing relationship between IIT Delhi and DAKSH. The Centre will address some of the critical issues faced by the society and work to provide the solutions. I am also happy to see that major departments at IIT Delhi such as Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science are coming together for this CoE.”

According to the MoU, DAKSH will reach out to the judiciary, organs of the state, universities, private organizations, and researchers for collaborative research projects and connect with the group(s) at IIT Delhi for inter-disciplinary research and development for the justice  system. DAKSH will also assist in securing financial resources for the activities of the CoE. Along with space and all infrastructural facilities, IIT Delhi will provide scientific and technical expertise and extensive research facilities to the CoE at par with the Institute’s academic activities.

IIT Delhi will take adequate measures to engage more faculty members from relevant areas in the CoE. The institute will also attract students and research scholars to set up startups and incubators on different law and technology-related research solutions.