Jesuit Lawyers Meeting of the Jesuit Conference of South Asia (JCSA)
From 19 to 21 October 2026, the Indian Social Institute in Delhi hosted the Jesuit Lawyers Meeting of the Jesuit Conference of South Asia (JCSA).
The meeting brought participants together with the objectives of establishing a Conference-level forum, addressing issues at the national level, providing legal literacy to vulnerable people, and creating mechanisms for networking and collaboration.
The official inauguration was led by Fr Stany D Souza, President of the Conference, who called on participants to be vigilant lawyers in defending and promoting constitutional values, and by Fr Ajit Xess, new JCSA President, who recalled the historic legacy of Jesuit lawyers in Chotanagpur.
During the event, Fr Tony Dias presented his recent book on the Constitution of India and civil society organisations. Lawyers Robin David and Michael Dias facilitated sessions on litigation, free legal aid, natural justice, labour law, institutional compliance, and minority rights, emphasising the need to build alliances with lawyers of goodwill in order to facilitate access to justice. The directors of various legal centres: Ravi Sagar, Anupchand, K.M. Joseph, Santhanam, and Owen, shared the different dimensions of their work on the ground. Finally a panel comprising Dr Alana, A.C. Michael, and Sr Sneha Gill examined expectations regarding Jesuit legal advocacy, highlighting the importance of organised collaboration in support of minorities and advocacy with government and Church bodies.
As a result of their joint work, participants outlined agreements and priority strategic directions aimed at strengthening the impact and sustainability of their legal work:
- The formal establishment of a Jesuit Lawyers Forum at the Conference level, the creation of a central research team, the formation of a fact-finding team, and the establishment of minority assistance cells.
- The prioritisation of litigation and the creation of legal centres in each Province. It was explicitly agreed that legal cells should operate in association with social centres and receive adequate financial support from their respective Provinces.
- With regard to formation, it was suggested that Law studies (LLB) be undertaken immediately after priestly ordination in order to avoid gaps or interruptions following the completion of formation. The need to ensure smooth transitions and transfers of Jesuit personnel was also emphasised, ensuring that clients who depend directly on their lawyers are not left unattended.
- The creation of a corpus fund to support social and legal work, addressing the issue of anti-conversion, and systematically documenting Jesuit contributions in the legal field.
The evaluation of the meeting reflected a promising starting point. Among the most highly valued aspects were the effectiveness of the working sessions, the enriching exchange of information, and the strengthened sense of belonging to the group. It was also agreed to hold an annual meeting to ensure continuity in the exchange and to renew learning among Jesuit lawyers. The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Fr Jerald D Souza.
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