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India Legal

Research Foundation

An independent legal research foundation working to strengthen access to justice and the quality of legal practice in India.

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About Us

India Legal Research Foundation (ILRF) is an independent legal research and institutional think tank dedicated to advancing access to justice, legal knowledge, and responsible legal practice.

ILRF's work is rooted in rigorous legal research. We undertake issue-based studies, doctrinal analysis, and strategic legal research on questions of law, governance, and rights, with the objective of strengthening legal understanding and improving the quality of legal engagement in India.

Access to justice is a central concern of the Foundation. Through focused legal aid initiatives, ILRF supports individuals who are economically or socially disadvantaged by providing legal guidance, representation support, and procedural assistance, helping bridge gaps in access to the justice system.

ILRF is equally committed to capacity building within the legal profession. Through fellowships, training programmes, and research-driven engagement, we work to develop lawyers and legal researchers equipped to engage thoughtfully with litigation, public law, and rights-based work.

Through its work, ILRF seeks to bridge research, justice, and institutional practice, contributing to a more reasoned, accessible, and equitable legal system.

Our Initiatives

ILRF's initiatives are designed to strengthen legal awareness, support access to justice, and build capacity across the legal ecosystem.

India Legal Awareness Helpline

A citizen-oriented legal support channel established to provide accessible, preliminary legal guidance and direction to individuals navigating legal concerns.

It serves as an initial point of contact for people seeking clarity on legal procedures, documentation, and available remedies, especially those who may not yet be positioned to engage formal legal representation.

Working alongside ILRF's legal aid and research initiatives, the helpline contributes to bridging the gap between legal knowledge and practical assistance at the grassroots level.

Learn

Capacity Building & ILRF Fellowship

An upcoming capacity-building initiative aimed at engaging early-career and mid-career lawyers, researchers, and legal professionals in structured research, litigation support, and rights-oriented legal work.

The programme is intended to cultivate research-driven legal practice, encourage interdisciplinary engagement with law and policy, and strengthen institutional understanding of access-to-justice challenges.

Through mentorship, collaborative research, and exposure to real-world legal processes, the Fellowship will contribute to developing a new generation of professionals committed to responsible legal practice and public interest engagement.

Coming

Board of Members

ILRF is guided by a Board of Members comprising legal professionals, researchers, and institutional advisors.

The Board provides strategic direction, ensures adherence to the Foundation's objectives, and upholds standards of independence, integrity, and public responsibility.

M. N. Venkatachaliah

M. N. Venkatachaliah

Patron-in-Chief

Renowned former Chief Justice of India (1993-1994), Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah elevated judicial standards through landmark rulings on constitutional rights, human rights, and administrative accountability during his tenure at the Karnataka High Court and Supreme Court. His leadership extended to chairing the National Human Rights Commission, where he championed institutional reforms and protections for marginalized communities. Beyond the bench, he contributed to constitutional reviews and legal think tanks, influencing policy on governance and ethics. Today, his legacy endures in legal education and advisory roles with foundations like ILRF, promoting access to justice and rule of law.

Pradeep Rai

Pradeep Rai

Patron

Distinguished Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India and Chairman of the India Legal Research Foundation (ILRF), Pradeep Rai excels in high-stakes litigation spanning civil, criminal, constitutional, and international law across courts, tribunals, and regulators. With over 25 years of practice, he previously served as Vice-President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, leading initiatives on legal aid and policy innovation. His work emphasizes research-driven advocacy, pro bono services, and bridging academia with practice through ILRF's programs on emerging legal challenges. Rai's public engagements further amplify discourse on judicial reforms and equitable justice delivery.

Prof. Upendra Baxi

Prof. Upendra Baxi

Emeritus Professor, Univ. of Warwick

Eminent legal scholar and Emeritus Professor at the University of Warwick, Prof. Upendra Baxi is a global authority on human rights, comparative constitutionalism, and transformative constitutionalism, authoring seminal critiques on globalization and mass harms. A pioneer in Indian legal academia, he shaped institutions like the National Law School of India University and advanced public interest litigation theories. His prolific scholarship spans over 30 books and 100 articles, influencing Supreme Court jurisprudence on rights and justice. Baxi's involvement with ILRF underscores his commitment to interdisciplinary legal research and global south perspectives.

Prof. Dr. Ranbir Singh

Prof. Dr. Ranbir Singh

Founder VC, NLU Delhi

Founder Vice-Chancellor of National Law University, Delhi, he transformed India's legal education landscape through visionary leadership at NALSAR Hyderabad, NLSIU Bangalore, and beyond. Renowned for expertise in jurisprudence, human rights, and constitutional law, he authored key texts and advised on reforms like DNA profiling legislation and police modernization. Mentoring dozens of PhD scholars worldwide, his emphasis on clinical legal education fostered practical skills for future litigators. Singh's contributions to ILRF align with his lifelong advocacy for innovative policy and academic excellence in law.

Prof. J. P. Singh

Prof. J. P. Singh

VC, RGNUL Patiala

Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala, Prof. J. P. Singh (Jai Shankar Singh) specializes in international law, constitutional studies, and human rights with over 25 years in academia. Former Dean at the University of Allahabad, he has published extensively on global governance, security laws, and judicial processes. Under his stewardship, RGNUL advances interdisciplinary research, moot courts, and collaborations for holistic legal training. His ILRF association bolsters efforts in research fellowships and policy dialogues on contemporary legal frontiers.

Trusted Voices

Justice N. V. Ramana
"Arbitration in places like Singapore, London, Hong Kong and Malaysia is successful not merely because of physical infrastructure and enforceable awards. It succeeds because the judicial system is attuned to arbitration. This is where the report of the Srikrishna Committee is critical. Institutions like ILRF further strengthen this ecosystem by research-based capacity building and by bridging the gap between law, policy and access to justice."

Justice N. V. Ramana

48th Chief Justice of India (CJI)

Justice Alok Aradhe
"Training of judges at all levels, sufficient government support, proper legal framework for arbitration, institutional arbitration, experienced arbitrators and minimal judicial interference are essential. ILRF's legal research and training initiatives are equally crucial in building awareness and improving institutional dispute resolution in India."

Justice Alok Aradhe

Judge

Supreme Court

Justice P. Vishwanath Shetty
"There is a dire need for people committed to mediation, as it is those who can bring success and reforms. Since no dispute is the same, new thinking and new tools are required. ILRF's role in legal research, mediation awareness and legal aid initiatives can help society adopt mediation as a practical and accessible path to justice."

Justice P. Vishwanath Shetty

Former Judge

Karnataka Lokayukta

Late Prof. Madhava Menon
"There is a dire need for committed mediators who can bring change and success. A section of mediators can bring reforms in their own way. New thinking and new tools are required for effective mediation—supported by credible legal research institutions like ILRF which work continuously to make justice accessible and practical at the grassroots"

Late Prof. Madhava Menon

Founder Vice-Chancellor

NLSIU

Justice Santosh Hegde
"There have been instances of friction in the Supreme Court and High Courts, and in that sense, the judiciary has been in crisis. As a citizen, I am happy to see this crisis because renovation follows reflection. Strong legal research institutions like ILRF further support this process by strengthening legal discourse, research and access to justice."

Justice Santosh Hegde

Former Solicitor General of India

Justice V. S. Sirpurkar
"When you are a judge, you should be seen talking only inside the court, not outside. The Judiciary has become the talking point in every nook and corner of society. Therefore, responsible legal research and citizen legal awareness—like ILRF promotes—are essential to ensure informed discussion and respect for institutions."

Justice V. S. Sirpurkar

Chairman

Competition Appellate Tribunal of India

Justice (B. N.) Srikrishna
"There is a link between poverty and lack of knowledge of law. Therefore law education should become part of our curriculum so that justice becomes accessible to all. I congratulate the India Legal Research Foundation (ILRF) for its bold initiative to make justice accessible to all through legal aid, legal education and research-driven reforms."

Justice (B. N.) Srikrishna

Former Judge

Supreme Court

Justice Shivraj Patil
"IBC is considered a landmark reform in ease of doing business. It helps resolve insolvency and refloat companies in distress. It has reduced the time taken to wind up a company. ILRF's legal research work strengthens such reforms by evaluating implementation challenges and creating awareness for stakeholders."

Justice Shivraj Patil

Former Judge

Supreme Court

Justice Swatanter Kumar
"ADR is not only desirable but inevitable considering that pendency is increasing at an alarming rate. Time, cost, simplicity of procedures and efficiency are vital. ILRF's contribution in research, legal training and access to justice enables ADR to become more meaningful and citizen-friendly."

Justice Swatanter Kumar

Chief Justice

Bombay High Court

Justice Pradeep Nandrajog
"Environment is a social subject and therefore collective effort is needed to preserve it. Society needs clean air and water; the government must not shift responsibility. Strong legal research and legal aid ecosystems such as ILRF are vital for public awareness and for ensuring environmental justice reaches the last citizen."

Justice Pradeep Nandrajog

Additional Judge

Delhi High Court

Justice J. Bharti Dangre
"Three years have passed since IBC was introduced and the law has yielded results. In 2018 IBC brought the homebuyer as a financial creditor, which is praiseworthy. Institutions like ILRF strengthen such reforms by supporting policy research, stakeholder literacy and citizen-centric legal awareness"

Justice J. Bharti Dangre

Additional Judge

High Court of Bombay

Get in Touch

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Contact Information

Our Office:
A-9, Block A, Sector 68, Noida, Basi Bahuddin Nagar, Uttar Pradesh 201309

Connect With Us

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India Legal Awareness Helpline

Access reliable information on legal rights and procedural pathways through a phone-based helpline. Built to support legal awareness and informed understanding, anytime, anywhere.

Information shared through this helpline is intended to guide users in the right direction and is not legal advice.

India Legal Research

Foundation

ILRF

An independent legal research foundation working to strengthen access to justice and the quality of legal practice in India.

+91 8377009673
contact@ilrf.in
A-9, Block A, Sector 68, Noida,
Basi Bahuddin Nagar, Uttar Pradesh 201309

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