Paramjyot Singh

Dr. Paramjyot Singh, has been associated with human rights advocacy and awareness campaigns for the last one decade in Odisha. A former intern of the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi, he has worked extensively on the legal issues concerning rehabilitation and resettlement of involuntarily displaced tribal people. Mr. Paramjyot graduated First Class First with Distinction in History from Utkal University, Odisha. He was awarded the National Merit Scholarship and the Professor Ghanashyam Dash Memorial Gold Medal for this distinction. He completed his Masters with specialization in Modern Indian History from the Central University of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. He has a Bachelor and Master of Laws degree from Utkal University. He was awarded the University Gold Medal in Law for securing the University Top position in Master of Laws Examination. He has worked as an advocate at Orissa High Court and was a visiting faculty of Constitutional Law and Human Rights at Utkal University.

Paramjyot Singh was awarded the Fulbright Doctoral and Professional Research Fellowship to pursue research at the Indigenous Law and Policy Center, Michigan State University, United States of America. His main focus remains human rights and fair justice initiatives involving populations at the grassroots level. He has varied interests in adventure sports, folk theatre and oral history traditions. He was awarded his Doctorate Degree in Law for his work on the land rights and entitlements of the tribal people of Odisha.

Experience Detail

1.Fulbright DPR Fellow, Indigenous Law & Policy Center, Michigan State University, 2010-2011.

2.Taught Constitutional Law & Human Rights at P.G Department of Law, Utkal University, 2011-2014.

3.Advocacy and Legal Consultancy, 2008-2017.

4.Taught Human Rights at University Law College, Odisha, 2005-2006.

5.Research Assistant to Prof. L.K.Mahapatra, UNDP-DFID Assisted Project on Rehabilitation & Resettlement Policy, Odisha, 2005.

6.Intern, National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi, 2001.

Academic Distinction (Awards and Scholarships)

1. Awarded the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Law by Utkal University.

2. Felicitated for Outstanding Leadership in the Field of Law, by Jual Oram, Honble Union Minister, Tribal Development, Government of India, at University Law College Union Function, Bhubaneswar. 2015.

3. Awarded Certificate by the Institute of International Education for participating in Fulbright Enrichment Seminar on the theme, Greening of the Planet: Global Challenges, Local Solutions, sponsored by United States Department of State on February 24-27, 2011, at San Francisco, California.USA.

4. Awarded Fulbright DPR Fellowship 2010-2011 to pursue doctoral research at Indigenous Law Policy Center (IPLC) Michigan State University College of Law, East Lansing, Michigan, U.S.A.

5. Awarded University Gold Medal in Law for Securing First Class First in the Order of Merit in the Master of Laws (LL.M) Examination.2004-2005.

6. Awarded Certificate of Merit by the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi, India, 2001, for carrying out a study on, Custodial Deaths in Judicial Custody in India between 1999-2001

7. Awarded National Merit Scholarship by The Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.1993-1995.

8. Awarded Professor Ghanashyam Dash Memorial Gold Medal for Securing the Highest Marks in B.A. History Honors Examination , Utkal University, 1993.

9. Awarded the Certificate of Merit for securing the First position in School in AISSC Examination 1990.

Area of RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Constitutional Law and Labour Legislations.
• Business Laws.
• Development Induced Displacement and Rehabilitation & Resettlement Policy and Law.

Journal Articles-Refereed

Singh, Paramjyot, Reflections on Rights Discourse Among American Native Tribes and Indian Tribes: A Comparative Legal Study with Special Reference to Odisha (March 6, 2015). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2578413

Singh, Paramjyot, Re-Working Strategies of Tribal Development and Displacement, Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2420683 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2420683

Singh, Paramjyot, Deconstructing Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996: Emerging Dimensions, Media Spectrum, pp 35-36, 16-31 July, 2009, New Delhi.

Singh, Paramjyot, Deconstructing Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996: Emerging Dimensions, Media Spectrum, pp 29-33, 1-15 August, 2009, New Delhi.

Chairperson/Co-Chairperson in conferences

Invited as Co-Chairperson at National Conference on Good Governance: Then, Now and Beyond Organised by Sri Sri University, Cuttack Campus, Odisha, India, 4-5 Feb 2017.

Invited as Chairperson/Discussant (Law Panel) to the South Central Asia Conference of Fulbright Scholars at Kochi, India, organized by USIEF and The US Department of State between 24th and 28th February 2013.

Co-ordinating/Organizing Workshop/Conferences /MDPs

Organized a Talk at University Law College, ULC Campus, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on 15th April 2013, for Mr. Asim Rehman, President of the New York Muslim Bar Association in collaboration with American Consulate Hyderabad, India.

Invited to deliver Keynote addresses/ speeches

Invited to Speak as a Resource Person on Project Conceptualization Workshop on Development, Displacement and Resistance: Mapping Contemporary Social Movements in India/Odisha. On the Topic, Of People, Movements and Development: Rethinking Post Colonial State and Society in Odisha. Chaired by Prof. Shanta Sinha, Magsaysay Award Winner, organized by Department of History, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, 10-11 August, 2015.

Chief Speaker at the Valedictory Function of the National Seminar on the topic, Unsung Tribal Heroes in Indian Freedom Movement. Organized by BISS, Odisha in collaboration with MVNRI-Rourkela and District Administration Panposh, Sundergarh, Odisha on 27th April, 2014.

Chief Speaker at the Valedictory Function of the National Seminar on. Cultural Heritage of Undivided Koraput District of Odisha on the 8th and 9th June, 2014, Organised at Tribal Museum Premises, Koraput, Odisha.

Invited to share inputs as Resource Person for Review and Update of World Bank Safeguards Policy, organized by WORLD BANK India team at Hotel Trident, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on the 10th of April 2013.

Invited as Chief Speaker to the West Bengal State University, Barasat, Kolkata, to speak on the topic Protecting Indigenous People Experiencing Displacement: The Future Role of Law and Governance in India. 18th April 2012.

Chief Speaker at the Seminar on the Health and Agricultural Challenges faced by Tribal People of Odisha organized by the JJKP, Odisha, on 11th November 2012, at the Secretariat Employees Organization Hall, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Invited as Chief Speaker at the Post Graduate Department of Industrial Relation(PMIR), Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on the Topic "Industrial Development, Displacement and Rehabilitation: Challenges for the Future"(August 2011).

Membership of Professional Bodies

Member, Michigan State University Alumni Association, USA, 2011.

Member, Odisha State Bar Council, since 2008.

Life Member, Orissa High Court Bar Association, since 2008.

Participation in Workshops/Conferences/Forums/ Meetings etc

Participated in National Seminar organized by National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi and Utkal University (PG Department of Law) on Judiciary, Democracy and Tradition: An Evaluation with Special Reference to Human Rights. 5th-6th February, 2015.

Attended the Fulbright Open House Mentoring Program as a Resource Person at USIEF, Kolkata on 17 April 2012 and spoke on the FNDPR category and shared my US Fulbright experience with potential candidates.

Participated in the International Conference on Resettlement and Rehabilitation organized at Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar, Odisha by XIM Bhubaneswar, XLRI Jamshedpur and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai, April 10-12, 2012.

Participated as a Resource Person in the Workshop Building Partnership, April 4-5, 2012, at MayFair Lagoon, Bhubaneswar as part of the Fulbright Educational Outreach involving educational administrators from the North Eastern States, organized by USIEF Kolkata and US Department of State, Kolkata.

Attended the Experiential Leadership Workshop for Alumni at North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India on 23-24 September 2011 organised by the US Consulate General, Kolkata, India.

Participated in the panel discussion on Orissa: Rich Cultural Tradition and Industrialization. The main speakers were Mr. Khirode Pattanaik, Entrepreneur; Professor Jatin Nayak, Historian, Mr. Srimoy Kar, journalist. Venue: Conference Hall, Mayfair Lagoon, Bhubaneswar, organized by United States India Educational Foundation (USIEF) Kolkata as part of the Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program.(July 22nd 2011)