The greatest Philosopher President of India Radha Krishnan said that Science and technology had been the instrument of liberation of man not his enslavement. We could build a paradise on earth for our people if we use resources of Science for human welfare. But appetite for development and indiscriminate industrialization have combined to alter the ‘gains’ of science as a harbinger of development and progress and turn it into an effective tool for endangering human life, health and environment.
Science and technology have brought qualitative changes in almost every aspect of human life, bringing with them problems which were otherwise unheard of. The development of Bio-technology coupled with Information technology and Nano-technology has brought about situations not previously contemplated. Biotechnology has made innovations like genetically modified food, crops and seeds. It has also helped us to discover sex determination techniques and other scientific techniques likes DNA finger printing or profiling to facilitate administration of justice. The recent developments in the field of embryonic stem cell and adult stem cell have affected human life in numerous ways. Science has made an attempt to create clone of human being. However, human cloning is not allowed in any country of the world. Science has also used therapeutic cloning for treatment of person who are/have been suffering from congenital abnormalities or genetic disorder. The progress made in surgical procedure of organ transplantation has brought with it myriad legal and ethical problems. The trafficking in human organs in India has attracted global attention. Millions of people in India lose their lives because the donors are not available in adequate numbers. The concept of brainstem death has paved the way for transplantation of human organ. The concept of motherhood is also fragmented. It has been changed into genetic mother, surrogate mother, biological mother, social mother.
The advent of technology has profound influence on the fundamentals of law making. It poses a wide range of specific problems for law. If law has to remain relevant and effective in society, it will have to continuously evolve itself in response to challenges and problems created by technology. Indian Parliament had responded by enacting law like the information Technology Act 2000. The Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, the Transplantation of Human Organ Act, 1994 etc. to meet the challenges created by developments and advancements made in the field of science and technology. The Concerned and willingness of Indian Parliament to tackle the problem arising out of use of technology is reflected form the list of pending Bills which have been introduced in Lower House (Lok Sabha ) or Upper House (Rajya Sabha). For Example, the Biotechnology Bill, 2011, the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2010, the Electronic Delivery of Services Bill, 2011 etc. are pending in the Parliament.
The seminar at Banaras Hindu University from 3 – 4 November 2012 will probe topics which include the interdisciplinary relationship between law and science; science in the courtroom; specialized judges and juries in complex technical cases; patenting life; conflicts between intellectual property and public health; and trade secrets. Etc.
The Seminar will focus on the following issues/themes.
1 – Interaction of Law Science and Technology: Legal & Policy Issues
a. Legal Issues
b. Political Issues
c. Sociological Issues
d. Economic Issues
2 – Right to Health and Law
a. Organ Transplantation and Sale of Human Organ
b. Improvement of Individual and Community Health and Hygiene
c. Experiments on Human Being- Ethics of Clinical Trial
d. IPR ( Patenting of Medicine) and Public Health
3 – Bio-technology and Law
a. Human Cloning
b. Foeticide, Abortion, In-Vitro Fertilization
c. Surrogate Motherhood
d. Food Production and Food Security
e. Food Management and Storage
f. Sex Determination Techniques in India
4 – Information Technology and Cyber Crime Laws
a. E-Governance
b. E-Judiciary
c. E-Commerce
d. Internet Banking
e. Digital Signature
f. Computer Crime-Hacking
g. Misuse or Abuse of Mobile Phone-SMS and MMS
h. Pornography online-Child Pornography
5- Investigation Techniques and Law
a. Electric Shock
b. DNA Finger Printing or Profiling
c. Trauma-Inducing Drugs and Psychotropic Substances- Narco Analysis, Brain Mapping, Lie Detector Test
6- Air Space and Law
a. Space applications viz. remote sensing
b. Intellectual Property Rights in outer space
c. Law of Liability in outer space
d. Space and Protection of the Environment
e. Air Law and Policy in India.
7- Nano-Technology and Law
a. Nano-Medicine
b. Nano-Fertilizer
c. Nano-Surgery
Above themes are only illustrative but not exhaustive. Paper presenters may select the related topics covered under the main theme.
Call for Papers
The organisers have invited research papers to be presented at the National Seminar in both hard and soft copy, the same should reach the organisers accompanied with an abstract latest by 20th October, 2012. Selected papers shall also be published in form of a book.
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utkarsh ravi
Is Co-authorship allowed?