In a landmark move that reshapes the global conversation on military law, the Forces Law Review—a first-of-its-kind international journal dedicated to military justice—was officially launched at the Commonwealth Law Conference in Malta on April 9.
Among those steering the helm of this ambitious endeavor is Major Navdeep Singh, a prominent voice from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He stood alongside a diverse panel of legal heavyweights from the UK, Australia, Malta, and the Commonwealth Secretariat to unveil the journal during the Military Justice Panel of the conference.
This isn’t just another academic journal. It’s a collaborative brainchild of the National Institute of Military Justice (Washington D.C.) and the Centre for Constitution and Public Policy at Panjab University in Chandigarh. Together, they’ve created a platform that dives deep into legal issues surrounding armed forces, paramilitary organizations, and even civil police structures.
The Forces Law Review is built on global insight, but with an unmistakable Indian imprint—three Indian lawyers and a retired High Court judge form part of its editorial leadership. The journal also draws upon the minds of student editors selected from around the world, making this a rare intergenerational, international legal alliance.
Volume one, set to roll out globally by month-end, features messages from key figures in the Indian judiciary, including a sitting Supreme Court justice and the Chairperson of the Armed Forces Tribunal. The content offers detailed analyses, case briefs, and judicial opinions from high courts and constitutional benches worldwide. There’s even a space carved out for bold opinion pieces, all passing through an editorial lens with global legal standards.
With editorial roles purely honorary and unpaid, the journal’s credibility is buoyed by its contributors’ commitment to advancing a transparent, inclusive, and critical approach to military justice.
Behind the scenes, the journal is guided by a trio of Chief Editors: Prof Franklin Rosenblatt (USA), Prof Shruti Bedi (India), and Major Navdeep Singh. Supporting them is a powerhouse Editorial Advisory Board composed of judges, scholars, and legal professionals from countries as varied as Brazil, South Africa, France, Uganda, and Italy—forming a veritable United Nations of military legal thought.
The Forces Law Review isn’t just another publication—it’s a signal flare. A call to elevate military justice beyond national boundaries and bring it firmly into the domain of global legal scholarship.
