Government Law College, Mumbai has issued its admission notice, dated 25 August 2026, for the Post Graduate Certificate Course in Human Rights for the academic year 2026-27. The course is conducted by Government Law College, Mumbai in collaboration with the HURT (Human Rights) Foundation, Mumbai, a trust registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 and established in 1992 by a group of advocates of the Bombay High Court.

The prospectus describes the course as an introduction to human rights covering the history of human rights, the different categories of rights, and the mechanisms available for their protection. It is designed for participants who wish to apply human rights principles in their own fields as well as outside them, and the offline batch is interspersed with field visits to organisations working on human rights issues.

Two Batches for 2026-27

Batch 1 (Online): commencing September 2026, conducted live on the Zoom platform. The exact commencement date, class schedule, timings and meeting link are communicated to registered participants by email before the course begins.
Batch 2 (Offline): commencing December 2026 at Government Law College, Mumbai.
Both batches run for three months, with classes on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, excluding public holidays.
Applicants choose their batch on the admission form.

Course Delivery and Structure

Classes are held in weekly sessions on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, excluding recognised public holidays. The instructional format comprises a minimum of 30 contact hours, equating to 2 academic credits as per prevailing guidelines. The pedagogy combines critical theory with advocacy training, delivered through lectures, case studies and interactive discussions.

Modules Covered

Module 1: Human Rights - concept, development and evolution, including philosophical, sociological and political debates
Module 2: Human Rights and the Indian Constitution - fundamental rights and duties, directive principles, welfare schemes
Module 3: Human Rights and State Mechanisms - police, judiciary, prisons, National and State Human Rights Commissions, rights of victims
Module 4: Human Rights of the Vulnerable and Marginalised - gender rights (POSH, DV, PCPNDT, ITPA, Dowry Prohibition Act), children (JJ Act, POCSO Act 2012, Child Labour Act, Child Marriage Act), social minorities
Module 5: Human Rights and Health - right to health, disability, organ transplant, euthanasia, pandemic-related issues
Module 6: Human Rights and Environment - globalisation and development, environmental movements, climate change
Module 7: International Mandate of Human Rights - UN documents, international and regional mechanisms, International Criminal Court, Sustainable Development Goals
Module 8: Citizen’s Role and Civil Society - social movements, civil society organisations, public interest litigation, right to information, role of the media
Module 9: Human Rights and Conflict - international humanitarian principles, crimes against humanity, fair trial, non-state violence, refugees and internally displaced persons
Module 10: Human Rights and Technology - intellectual property rights, digital privacy, ethical issues in AI, cybersecurity

Eligibility and Who Should Attend

Graduation in any discipline. The brochure states that no prior legal background is required and that the course is suited to students, professionals, educators and activists working in law, governance, technology, media, social work or advocacy who wish to engage with human rights.

Assignments and Evaluation

Assignment 1: an essay on a topic chosen from the list of core issues of human rights (1,500 words, 100 marks)
Assignment 2: a topic chosen from the list of current issues, submitted for critical evaluation (2,000 words, 100 marks)
Field visits: required for the offline mode only, with an assessment report of the visits (800 words, 50 marks)
A candidate of the offline batch must obtain a minimum of 45% in all three components of evaluation; a candidate of the online batch must obtain the same in the two components applicable in online mode

Requirements for the Certificate

75% attendance, whether in the online or offline batch
Submission of assignments on time
Field visits (offline mode only)
A minimum of 45% marks; non-submission or failure to score the minimum is treated as non-fulfilment of the course requirements
Plagiarism of any kind is treated as non-submission and leads to non-fulfilment of the basic requirements
Under the rules printed on the admission form, arriving 30 minutes after a class starts is marked as absent, and disputes are decided finally by the Course Advisory Committee of the HURT Foundation

Fee

The entire course fee is Rs 6,250 per participant, which includes the prospectus and the application form. Payment is made using the UPI ID, QR code or bank transfer details given in the online form, and a screenshot of the successful payment is uploaded with the application.

How to Apply

Applications are made through the online admission form linked from the HURT Foundation website and from the course prospectus on the Government Law College website. Applicants upload a photograph, fill in their personal, educational and employment details, choose Batch 1 (online, September) or Batch 2 (offline, December), upload proof of the fee payment, and accept the declaration and the rules and regulations. Queries may be addressed to the course coordinator at the HURT Foundation.