Prayagraj, August 30, 2025 — Dr. Rajendra Prasad National Law University, Prayagraj (RPNLUP) has taken a groundbreaking step in socially engaged legal education with the launch of its flagship initiative, Project Cluster Law, and the inauguration of its Law and Policy Action Clinic (LAPAC).
The event was graced by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta, Senior Judge, Allahabad High Court, as the Chief Guest, who formally launched both Cluster Law and LAPAC. He hailed the initiatives as “unique and novel ideas” that seamlessly integrate academic scholarship with real-world legal engagement.
Vision Shared by RPNLUP Leadership
In her welcome address, Sr. Prof. (Dr.) Usha Tandon, Vice-Chancellor of RPNLUP, highlighted the university’s mission of creating future-ready advocates, researchers, and policy thinkers. She described Project Cluster Law as a pioneering, experiential pedagogy-based initiative, designed with two key goals:
- Hands-on training for law students — through fieldwork, case analysis, and legal aid activities.
- Extending legal awareness and support to historically marginalized communities.
She also emphasized that the Law and Policy Action Clinic (LAPAC) will act as a research and action hub, generating practical solutions to pressing legal and policy challenges while giving students opportunities to bridge theory with practice.
Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta’s Address
Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta praised RPNLUP, noting that as a one-year-old university, it has already made remarkable strides in combining legal education with social empowerment.
He pointed out that Cluster Law will focus on three key groups:
- Rural communities – addressing issues like illiteracy, land disputes, and welfare access.
- Small-scale industrial sectors – offering legal literacy on labor rights, workplace safety, and compliance.
- Tribal groups – ensuring recognition of their identity and protection of their constitutional rights.
Justice Gupta stressed that the purpose of law is not just dispute resolution but also empowerment, dignity, fairness, and equality.
Dignitaries and Academic Leaders
The event was further enriched by the presence of distinguished academic leaders who joined as Guests of Honour. Among them were Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Kumar Sinha, Vice-Chancellor of Dharamshastra National Law University, Jabalpur; Prof. (Dr.) Devinder Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonepat; and Prof. Ravindra Pratap, Dean, Faculty of Legal Studies, South Asian University, Delhi. They shared their insights on the importance of empirical research in legal education and its pivotal role in shaping socially responsive lawyers. The program concluded with a heartfelt Vote of Thanks by Mr. Satya Prakash, Registrar of RPNLUP, who expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest, dignitaries, faculty, and students for their valuable presence and encouragement.
A New Era in Legal Education
With the launch of Cluster Law and the inauguration of LAPAC, RPNLU Prayagraj has reaffirmed its role as a centre of legal scholarship, innovation, and social engagement. These initiatives go beyond academics—they represent a commitment to use law as a service, empowering marginalized communities while shaping the next generation of socially conscious lawyers.