Swesthiga Kumar
(she/her)
Teams and roles for Swesthiga Kumar
Research student
Graduate Tutor
Overview
I am a PhD researcher in law studying the accessibility of court infrastructure for persons with disabilities in Tamil Nadu, India. My focus is on how physical, communication, and institutional barriers in court environments influence the experiences of persons with disabilities when accessing justice. Using a socio-legal approach, I conduct semi-structured interviews and autoethnography to explore lived experiences of persons with disabilities who are court users. Using the social model of disability, I analyse the connection between national and international legal frameworks, court infrastructure, and meaningful participation in the justice system. My aim is to add to academic knowledge on disability and infrastructural access to courts.
Teaching
2025/2026:
Public Law II (seminar delivery)
Tort Law (marking of exam scripts)
Biography
I did my undergraduate, B.com. LL.B. (Hons.) at Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU) and a postgraduate taught LL.M. (Constitutional and Administrative Law) at the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS). My LL.M. dissertation focused on the topic "A Critical Analysis of the Welfare of Domestic Animals and Birds under the Indian Legislation".
My research interests are Disability Law, International Human Rights Law, Animal Rights Law, Environmental Law, and Gender Equality and non-discrimination.