Update on NAJAR’s National Conclave: 22nd to 24th Nov at Karnataka | Announcement of NAJAR Nyay Abhiyan from 26th Nov to 26th Jan
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NAJAR’s National Conclave from 22nd to 24th Nov at Dharwad, Karnataka Reaffirms Collective Commitment to Constitutional Justice and People’s Movements
NAJAR Nyay Abhiyan announced from 26th Nov to 26th Jan:
Campaign shall take forward the resolve of the Conclave across India
The National Alliance for Justice, Accountability & Rights (NAJAR), an initiative of the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), concluded its vibrant 3-day National Conclave in Dharwad, Karnataka from 22–24 November, 2025. The Conclave brought together numerous legal professionals, activists, law researchers and law students from across the country to collectively reflect on the current democratic crisis and strategize for people-centered legal interventions, solidarity and actions. The Conclave also resolved to undertake an intense NAJAR Nyay Abhiyan from 26th Nov (Constitution Day) to 26th Jan (Republic Day) to take forward the key decisions of the Conclave across India.
Over two days, the Convention reaffirmed NAJAR’s foundational values of secularism, social justice, equality and democratic freedoms; values under severe threat in the present political climate. The Convention opened with stirring cultural expressions, distribution of the bags with constitutional preamble imprints and a reflection on NAJAR’s two-year journey of legal interventions and solidarity actions. This was followed by the Inaugural Plenary titled “Constitution in Crisis: Possibilities for Collaboration between Legal Fraternity and Progressive Movements,” where Sr. Adv. Gayatri Singh, Medha Patkar, Adv. Vasudha Nagaraj, Jabeena Khanum and Dr. Isabella Xavier spoke about the deepening erosion of constitutional morality, the shrinking autonomy of institutions and the vital need for closer collaborations between lawyers and people’s movements to resist injustice. The session situated NAJAR’s work within the broader struggle for democratic rights across India. Reports on the 2 years journey of NAJAR and on the work of NAJAR Karnataka chapter were also released during the session.
Across the Convention, participants engaged in thematic discussions on gender justice, labor rights, civil liberties, land, forests and ecology and the rights of marginalized communities. The participants also discussed in detail different strategies including litigation, legal aid, legislative and policy advocacy, fact-finding, research, capacity building and grassroots mobilization of the legal fraternity. State-wise and region-wise meetings generated concrete plans for 2026 rooted in local struggles. Law students and faculty explored how to strengthen co-operative and critical engagement with constitutionalism within legal education.
A series of strong and powerful resolutions on important contemporary issues of social and legal significance were passed, in particular on SIR, recent Supreme Court judgement on post facto environmental clearances, institutional and judicial autonomy and accountability, supporting equity-based legal education, opposing implementation of labor codes, solidarity with Ladakh, Palestine and other people's struggles, especially on the margins.
The Convention also adopted the Dharwad Declaration, a concise articulation of NAJAR’s values, journey and shared commitments for the coming year and its resolve to deepen solidarities with people’s struggles across India. The Declaration reaffirms NAJAR’s pledge to resist authoritarian governance and expand democratic space, through legal and constitutional means.An important highlight was also the presence of writer Ramzan Dargah, who spoke of the equity-liberation philosophy of Basavanna and its relevance to the work of NAJAR.
A significant moment of the gathering took place during the concluding plenary, “Plural Pathways Towards Comprehensive Justice,” featuring Adv. Indira Unninayar, Prof. Ganesh Devy, Adv. Albertina Almeida, Arvind Narrain and Adv. Seilenmang Haokip. The plenary underlined that justice in India must be pursued through multiple routes.
During this session, NAJAR and the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) jointly released a detailed report exposing the misuse of the UAPA against working class members of the Muslim community in certain cases in Hubli, highlighting patterns of targeted prosecution. On the third day, the participants interacted with sanitation workers from Gulbarga and civil society members of Hubli-Dharwad and also lent solidarity to their struggles for rights and dignity. A press conference was held at Hubli where the local press was briefed about the Conclave, the release of the UAPA misuse Report and the rights of sanitation workers. The Conclave concluded with multi-lingual slogans for justice at the statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at Hubli crossroads.
Through its discussions, resolutions and collective deliberations, the National Convention reaffirmed that defending constitutional rights today requires not only legal action but also moral clarity, solidarity with marginalized communities and an unwavering commitment to democratic principles. A 25-member National Working Group of NAJAR was constituted to strengthen the work of NAJAR in an effective and systematic way.
Drawing energy from the 3-day vibrant National Conclave at Dharwad, National Alliance for Justice, Accountability and Rights announced the NAJAR NYAY ABHIYAN from 26th November, 2025 (Constitution Day) to 26th January, 2026 (Republic Day), to take forward the spirit and resolutions of the Conclave across the country. We appeal to all NAJAR members, various thematic fora and state chapters of NAPM and associated movements to join us in this two-month long campaign of decentralized, collaborative and coordinated actions for justice, accountability and rights.
NAJAR emerges from Dharwad with renewed resolve to stand firmly with people’s movements and advance the struggles for a more just and democratic India.
Issued by: National Alliance for Justice, Accountability & Rights (NAJAR)
Email: najarjus...@gmail.com
Social: @najarjusticeforum
Encl: Dharwad Declaration of NAJAR and Conclave Concept Note
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NAJAR: National Alliance for Justice, Accountability & Rights
E-mail: najarjus...@gmail.com
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