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ABOUT US

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Centre for Research in Air and Space Law

Air and Space are pressing issues in the realm of international law. International air law deals with many topics, such as transport responsibility, the safety of passengers, hijacking, air pollution, and aerial warfare. Air law also combines public air law and private air law. Similarly, outer space is a key element in global security and sovereignty. Therefore, in order to avoid potentially devastating conflicts and to maintain global peace, there is a dire need for understanding the applicable rules of international law.

 

In this direction, MNLU Mumbai established a Centre for Research in Air & Space Law. The Centre aims to become an ideal forum for the exchange of ideas on the international law applicable to implementing international air and space law. It shall be a centre for advanced research for those practising or studying international aerospace law. The Centre shall engage in improving the existing legal and policy framework for facilitation and regulation of a safe, secure, affordable and sustainable space and contribute to the shaping of the legal foundation for the future of humanity that lies in space.

 

The Centre shall seek to support education, disseminate knowledge and encourage research. The objective of the Centre is to contribute to the development of air and space law and related policy by conducting and promoting research and teaching at the graduate and post-graduate levels.

​Objectives of the Centre

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  • To conduct interdisciplinary research in the area of air and space law and policy. The interdisciplinary research shall focus on law, economics, technology, business, government, and public policy and its intersection with Space law and policy.​​

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  • Maintain close collaboration with various international and national organisations in the aerospace industry, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Space Commission and the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).​​

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  • Increase cooperation with educational institutions, governmental and non-governmental organisations involved in air and space activities and their regulation.​​

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  • Encourage, facilitate and promote graduate student research in the field of space law and provide a platform to the students to develop their research skills in the field of Air and Space Law.​​

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  • Publish and disseminate books, journals, monographs and other documents pertinent to the field of air and space law and policy.​​

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  • Organise seminars, conferences, workshops, round tables etc. with the aim to provide a platform to facilitate deliberations amongst the stakeholders on the various issues confronting Aerospace Law and to contribute thereby in the ongoing discourse.​​

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  • Collaborate with other universities and research institutions to facilitate the exchange of faculty and students to understand and develop mutual perspectives and contexts regarding the future prospects of Air and Space Law.​

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  • Engage with stakeholders within the industry about the practical challenges and the feasibility of implementing regulations and policies in Air and Space Law.

​Executive Steering Committee

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The Centre for Research in Air and Space Law is the flagship centre established by MNLU to conduct interdisciplinary research in the area of air and space law and policy. The interdisciplinary research shall focus on law, economics, technology, business, government, and public policy and its intersection with Space law and policy. The objective of the Centre is to contribute to the development of air and space law and related policy by conducting and promoting research and teaching.

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Patron

Prof. (Dr.) Dilip Ukey

Vice-Chancellor, Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai

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Advisory Council

The Centre shall establish an Advisory Council to provide strategic advice and guidance. Registrar, Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai shall be the ex-officio Chair of the Advisory Council. Members include international law scholars and air and space law practitioners from across the world. The Advisory Council shall meet once a year to review the annual report of the Centre and to discuss plans for the next year. In addition, Advisory Council members support the Centre in many other ways, such as delivering lectures or presentations, providing advice on aspects of our research work, and supporting our programmes.

 

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Coordinator

Adithya A. Variath​

Coordinator, Centre for Research in Air & Space Law

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