About
Sugandha is currently an Assistant Professor of Law at Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Nyaya Nagar, Patna, serving the University since 2010. She has completed her PhD on gender dimensions of IPR under the Patents Act, 1970 and Geographical Indications Act, 1999 (supervised by Dr. G.P. Pandey).
Qualification
Sugandha ‘s qualifications comprise PhD from CNLU, Patna (2025) UGC NET (2018) Master of Laws from University College London (2008); LLB, Faculty of Law, Delhi University(2004); Post Graduate Diploma in Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law and Refugee Law from ISIL, Delhi (2003), BA (Honors) Political Science, Delhi University (2001), Intermediate (Arts) from Patna Women’s College, Patna (1998), and Matriculation from St. Paul’s School (ICSE), Begusarai, Bihar (1996).
Teaching / Research Experience
Sugandha is currently serving as Assistant Professor of Law at CNLU, Patna, teaching multiple subjects. Initially, she served as a Legal Associate at Remfry & Sagar, (Intellectual Property Rights), Millennium Plaza, Sector-27, Gurgaon, NCR, Delhi, gaining specialized experience in intellectual property law practice and thereafter joined academics.
She was Co-Investigator on the CRY-funded project ‘POCSO and Beyond: Combatting Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse during Covid in Rural-Urban Chasm’ which identified various forms of OCSEA and their prevalence patterns based on region, gender, class, and education. Currently, she serves as Investigator on the Review of State Action Plan 2017 for Elimination of Child Labour and Prohibition/Regulation of Adolescent Labour. She was also Core Team Member (with BIT Mesra, IIT Patna, UNICEF, AKU, Cyberpeace Foundation) for an effort to establish AI laboratory to identify CSAM in Bihar, in association with Monash University, Australia (2024); She organized an NCW Consultation for conducting regional law review on ‘Laws related to Women in Prisons’ (2025); and served as Member, National Child Rights Research Fellowship (NCRRF) Committee, CRY (2024–2025).
Area of Interest
Sugandha ‘s areas of interest include Child Rights, Gender Justice, Intellectual Property Rights, and Statutory Interpretation.
Publications
- ‘Reproductive Rights of Women with Special Reference to the State of Bihar’ in International Journal of Law Management & Humanities (Vol. 6 Iss. 3, p. 499, ISSN 2581-5369).
- ‘Innovating in the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry- An Analysis’ in Working of Patents: Law and pharmaceutical implications, edited by Dr. S.C. Roy, Mewar University Press (2015, pp. 227–238);
- ‘Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act – A Socio-legal analysis’ published in Bihar Journal of Political Science (Jan–Jun 2014, Vol. III No.1, ISSN 2277-422X);
- Paper ‘Free Trade Agreements and Access to Medicine’ presented at CNLU National Seminar on ‘Ever greening of Patents’ (May 2013), later published as a chapter in Evergreening of Patents, Satyam Law Publications.
Conference/Seminar/Workshop/Capacity Building Training
Sugandha has participated in several professional development programs. She completed an Online Refresher Course on ‘Research Methodology and Academic Writing’ from Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre, IIT(ISM) Dhanbad, Jharkhand (3 November 2025–15 November 2025). She completed a Refresher Course in Law from HRDC, Ranchi University (9 September 2021–15 September 2021), and the Guru-Dakshita Faculty Induction Programme (FIP) of 30 days from Human Resource Development Centre, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad (27 July 2020–25 August 2020).
Honours/Awards/Membership/Visiting Faculty/Guest Lectures/Keynote Address
She served as Member, Interview Board for appointment of Probation Officer/Child Welfare Officer/Case Worker, Social Welfare Department, Government of Bihar (5–6 January 2026). She is Member, Research Ethics Committee, Child Rights and You (CRY) (January 2026) and Member, National Child Rights Research Fellowship (NCRRF) Committee, CRY (2024–2025). In June 2023, she vetted questions on Motor Vehicles Act 1988, Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, Protection of Human Rights Act 1993, SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, and Dowry Prohibition Act 1951 for departmental examinations of Bihar Officers (BIPARD, Ref: BIPARD/TR/N.O.-2022-273). She served as External Member, Internal Committee under Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 at AIIMS Patna.
She has served as Resource Person in multiple capacities. These include orientation for BSCPCR members; Regional Law Review Consultation for National Commission for Women on ‘Cyber Law Affecting Women’, WBNUJS Campus, Kolkata; Core Team Member for AI CSAM laboratory establishment with workshop at Monash University; ‘Protection of Children Against Sexual Abuse and Harassment under POCSO Act and Measures to prevent child pornography’, Bihar Institute of Correctional Administration, Hajipur, Vaishali; Resource Person on RTE, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, and Domestic Violence Act at BIPARD, Phulwari Shari; Resource Person on POCSO/Juvenile Justice Act/Dowry Prohibition Act and Prohibition of Child Marriage Act at Bihar Institute of Public Administration & Rural Development; NCW-funded national seminar on ‘Reproductive Choice of Women: A Fundamental Right’ on the topic ‘Legal Aspects of Reproductive Choice of Women: Components, Features and Gaps’; workshop on ‘Investigation & Prosecution: Human Rights Interface’, State Crime Records Bureau, Bihar Police and CNLU Patna.
She chaired sessions in several national seminars: UGC-sponsored National Seminar on ‘Law and Environment Protection: Issues and Challenges’ organized by CNLU, Patna; National Seminar on ‘Better and Fair Environment for Women at Workplace’ organized by CNLU, Patna; and National Seminar on ‘Intellectual Property Rights: Emerging Issues and Challenges’ on Patents.
Additional resource person roles include: One Day Training Programme on Human Rights, organized by CNLU in association with NHRC, New Delhi; One Day Training Programme on Child Rights, Organized by CNLU in association with NHRC, New Delhi; Technical Expert in Law for Gender Resource Centre, Women Development Corporation, Government of Bihar, for sensitization of Media Persons and Media Students on Child Marriage and Dowry Prohibition; NHRC-sponsored one day workshop at CNLU on ‘Women Rights’ with presentation on CEDAW and its optional protocol; one day legal awareness program organized by Sneha Dhara in collaboration with CNLU; Legal Awareness at Youth Centre, Chakaram, Patna; Legal awareness program under NSS at Manorama Vidyapeeth, Patna; and legal awareness program for NSS members of J.D Women’s College, Patna University.
Other Accomplishments
She has held numerous administrative responsibilities at CNLU. These include Faculty Exchange Committee, Good Relations and Outreach, IQAC, and Restorative Justice Committee; Moot Court Committee; MUN Committee COVID-19 Committee/COVID-19 Grievance Cell; Head, Child Rights Centre; Non-AISHE Member Nodal Officer for Swachh Bharat Summer Internship Program; NSS Program Officer; CNLU MUN Society Faculty Member; and Assistant Warden, Girls Hostel. She also drafted the Chanakya National Law University (Discipline and Conduct) Rules.
Her other significant accomplishments include initiating, facilitating, coordinating and organizing the summer school programme on Human Rights, Development and Social Change with University of Nanterre, Paris and European University of Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) (4–7 March 2024). In October 2025, she facilitated on behalf of child rights centre, with Prayas JAC Society to enter into an MoU for launching Diploma courses in Juvenile Justice and related issues for stakeholders in Bihar and nationally.
She maintains regular and overall coordination for the Child Rights Centre, CNLU, Patna, including negotiating and bringing projects to CRC. Some of the projects undertaken include: ‘Condition of Children in Conflict with Law Remanded to Prisons as Adults and Challenges in Accessing Socio-Legal aid and services – An Exploratory Study in the Prisons of Bihar’; ‘Law and Policy Relating to Adolescent Labour: A Socio-Legal Study with Special Reference to the State of Bihar’; and ‘Drafting Standards Operating Procedure on Child Labour Trafficking and Children on the move’.
She organised the inauguration of Child Rights Centre on 20 November 2018, coordinating with UNICEF and the Speaker’s office, overseeing minute-to-minute organization of the event. She co-organised the 1st Bihar Legislators Conclave on Rights and Well-Being of children along with the Centre Coordinator. She coordinated and organized the Dissemination Workshop of ‘Ending Violence in Childhood: Global Report 2017’ with CRC and ‘Know Violence in Childhood: A global Learning Initiative.’
ORCID
ORCID: 00009-0001-2333-4666
