The Justice Definitions Project is a collaborative, community-driven initiative launched by the Judicial Data Collaborative in August 2023 to facilitate legal and justice system related understanding for the Indian public.
The Justice Definitions Wiki, the hosting platform for the project, is a free and open-source shared learning platform providing comprehensive, inclusive and credible legal and justice system related terminology information, co-curated by legal community in India to be used by everyone to understand the justice system in India and access justice.
The Justice Definitions Project serves as a comprehensive resource hub where wiki pages are organized according to broader thematic areas of law. An ideal wiki page addresses legal terms through key components such as: Sources of law, government policies, databases, research studies.
The platform also enables forum discussions on conceptual and functional aspects intrinsic to each legal term. By exploring regional variations and highlighting distinct practices within domestic legal frameworks and documenting international perspectives, the wiki encourages wider participation and a nuanced understanding of legal frameworks.
A flagship program of the Justice Definitions Project to encourage law students to enhance their research writing skills and contribute to the Justice Definitions Wiki to make legal knowledge accessible for all.
The legal practitioners, researchers and academics review the wiki definition pages, add their insights and collaborate with us in creating a comprehensive repository, that reflects India’s diverse legal landscape.
The Judicial Data Collaborative (JDC), in partnership with Indian law schools, hosts the “Justice Definitions Edit-a-Thon.” This hybrid event allows law students to conduct focused legal research and writing on the Justice Definitions Wiki. Under the guidance of legal experts, students contribute to a public, accessible legal resource by creating and refining entries on key legal concepts. This is a structured, time-limited exercise designed to enhance research and writing skills while building a valuable legal knowledge base.
The Judicial Data Wiki for Definitions and Taxonomies was officially launched on August 17, 2023.
For the launch, we have Mr. Ankit Kaushik, Assistant Professor in Legal Research and Co-Coordinator for the Centre for Criminology and Victimology at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab.
We have collaborated with 5 law schools across India with over 200 law students, curating 50+ legal term entries that are peer-collaborated and subject matter experts-reviewed on the Justice Definitions Wiki within thematic areas of Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) Law, Anti-Corruption and Public Accountability Law, Criminal Justice, Intellectual Property Law, and Constitutional Law.
