[CALS Public Seminar] Conjuring Criminal Law on the Good Ship ‘The Indian Penal Code’

On 2 December 2025, the Centre for Asian Legal Studies (CALS) at the NUS Faculty of Law hosted a public seminar titled “Conjuring Criminal Law on the Good Ship ‘The Indian Penal Code’” at the Lee Sheridan Conference Room, Bukit Timah Campus. Delivered by Stanley Yeo, Visiting Professor at the National University of Singapore, the seminar offered a reflective and engaging exploration of his forty-five-year-long academic journey in the field of criminal law.

In his presentation, Stanley Yeo shared personal insights tracing his development from an inexperienced lecturer in the early 1980s to his current role as a visiting research professor at CALS. He recounted how his sustained engagement with the Indian Penal Code (IPC) shaped both his teaching and research trajectory, contributing significantly to his academic fulfilment and to important legal reforms in various jurisdictions. His reflections highlighted the intellectual rewards of examining criminal law through comparative perspectives and the broader impact such scholarship can have on legal systems.

Throughout the seminar, Stanley Yeo discussed key lessons drawn from his extensive career, offering guidance aimed at law students, early-career academics, and researchers interested in understanding the realities of academic life. He also addressed the practical dimensions of legal scholarship, including navigating institutional expectations, collaborating with scholars across continents, and balancing doctrinal study with socio-legal insights.

The session was moderated by Professor Kumaralingam Amirthalingam of the NUS Faculty of Law, who facilitated a thoughtful discussion following the lecture. The event drew participants from diverse backgrounds who gained a deeper appreciation of the evolution of criminal law scholarship and the enduring influence of the IPC on contemporary legal discourse.

The seminar concluded with an interactive question-and-answer segment, followed by a reception where attendees continued their discussions informally. The event underscored Stanley Yeo’s lasting contributions to comparative criminal law and highlighted the importance of sustained academic inquiry in shaping legal development across jurisdictions.