The Centre for Criminology, Criminal Justice and Forensic Science (CCCJFS), Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Nagpur, organised a National Conference on “Reimagining the Organ Transplantation Regime in India” on October 29 and 30, 2026.
The conference brought together members of the judiciary and medical fraternity to deliberate on the legal, ethical and institutional challenges in India's organ transplantation framework.
Former Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai, attended the conference as the Chief Guest, while Justice Anil S Kilor, Administrative Judge, Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench, was the Distinguished Guest. The conference was also attended by Justice Urmila Joshi Phalke and Justice Raj Wakode of Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench. The medical fraternity was represented by Dr Sanjay Kolte, Dr Raj Gajbhiye, Dr Vivek Kute and Dr Manish Balwani.
In her welcome address, Dr Karishma B Gavai, Centre In-charge, CCCJFS, highlighted the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address illegal organ trade, procedural delays and unequal access to transplantation. Vice-Chancellor Prof (Dr) Jyoti Bhakare emphasised the importance of a coordinated approach involving law, medicine, ethics and public policy to ensure fairness, dignity and public trust in the transplantation system.
The inaugural session also witnessed the felicitation of the dignitaries and the unveiling of the book Organ Transplantation Regime in India.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Sanjay Kolte highlighted the potential of deceased-donor transplantation and called for structured training programmes, dedicated teaching departments, stronger research facilities and effective vigilance mechanisms. Dr Vivek Kute discussed kidney paired donation as a means of addressing donor-recipient incompatibility and stressed the need for clear national guidelines and coordination through the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO). Dr Manish Balwani highlighted the challenges in finding compatible donors within nuclear families and called for strengthening deceased-donor programmes.
Addressing the conference, Justice BR Gavai emphasised the need to strengthen India's legal and institutional framework governing organ transplantation. Referring to Articles 21 and 47 of the Constitution, he highlighted the State's responsibility to improve public health and the constitutional protection of the right to life with dignity. He stressed that financial constraints should not deprive individuals of access to life-saving treatment.
Justice Gavai observed that legislation must evolve in response to changing social realities and expressed hope that the recommendations emerging from the conference would receive due consideration from Parliament. He also called for reducing administrative delays in transplantation approvals, improving coordination among authorities and strengthening the systematic reporting of transplantation data.
Highlighting the need to protect both donors and recipients, Justice Gavai drew attention to gender disparities in organ donation and transplantation and underscored the importance of equality and fairness. He appreciated the Centre's efforts in compiling statutory provisions, regulatory mechanisms and judicial decisions, while emphasising that constructive criticism of judicial decisions remains essential to legal development. In this context, he referred to Amar Singh Bhatia & Anr. v. Ganga Ram Hospital & Ors.(2024).
Justice Gavai also encouraged participants to pledge their organs for donation and shared his own commitment to the cause. Justice Anil S Kilor, VC Prof (Dr) Jyoti Bhakare and Prof (Dr) Vijay Pratap Tiwari, Head of the Department of Law, also pledged to donate their organs.
The conference concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Registrar Shri Deepak L Bhagwat, who acknowledged the contributions of the dignitaries, university administration, faculty, staff and students.
Organising Committee
Faculty Members: Dr Karishma B Gavai (Centre In-charge), Prof Apeksha Kamble, Dr Devyani and Dr Teena Sundarbanshi.
Student Members: Samiksha Fulzele, Panav Arora, Aryan Paradshinge, Diya Kothari, Harshana Singh Baghel, Taneea Tejwani, Bhavya Sharma, Sakshi Sharma, Shefali Gaikwad, Aakash Singh Thakur, Hari Akshath MK and Zikra Shaikh.
<sponsored by the brand>