ISC - Kumarappa-Reckless Award

Professor J. M. Kumarappa

Professor Jagadisan Mohandas Kumarappa was a distinguished Indian scholar, author, parliamentarian, and a pioneer in the development of criminology and social sciences in India. He served as the first Indian Director of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai, where he played a critical role in shaping academic curricula and policy-oriented research in social work and criminal justice education. Professor Kumarappa held Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Social Sciences from Columbia University and was among the select criminologists invited by the United Nations Secretary-General in 1949 to advise on international crime prevention programs. His collaboration with global experts significantly enriched the evolution of correctional policies in India, marking him as a key figure in bridging academic insights with practical reforms in criminal justice administration.

Professor W. C. Reckless

Professor Walter Cade Reckless (1899–1988) was an eminent American criminologist known for his foundational contributions to criminological theory, including the influential containment theory of social control. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Reckless earned his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Chicago, and later served as a leading figure in American and international criminology. In the early 1950s, he was designated as an expert in Criminology and Correctional Administration under the United Nations Technical Assistance Programme. Invited by the Government of India, Reckless spent several months in India studying correctional institutions and advising on improvements to correctional training and administration, working closely with Professor J. M. Kumarappa as a liaison to the Government of India.

In 1973, the Indian Society of Criminology (ISC) established its highest honour, the “The ISC - Kumarappa-Reckless Award,” recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions to teaching, research, or administration in the broad field of criminology and criminal justice. Recipients of this prestigious award also deliver the Kumarappa-Reckless Lecture at the Annual All India Criminology Conference, celebrating excellence and sustained impact on the discipline.

List of Awardees

ISC – Dr. B. S. Haikerwal and Prof. Sushil Chandra Award

Dr. B. S. Haikerwal

Dr. B. S. Haikerwal was a respected Indian social scientist whose academic work made a lasting contribution to the growth of criminology within the broader framework of the social sciences. He emphasized the importance of understanding crime, deviance, and criminal justice processes in their social, economic, and institutional contexts. Through his teaching, research, and scholarly engagement, Dr. Haikerwal helped promote an interdisciplinary approach to criminology, encouraging dialogue between sociology, social work, public administration, and criminal justice studies. His contributions continue to be valued for their relevance to both academic inquiry and policy-oriented research.

Professor Sushil Chandra

Professor Sushil Chandra was a distinguished senior social scientist known for his scholarly leadership and commitment to advancing criminology through interdisciplinary perspectives. His work highlighted the close relationship between social structures, governance, and crime, and underscored the role of social science research in informing criminal justice policy and practice. As a teacher, researcher, and mentor, Prof. Chandra played a significant role in shaping criminological thought in India, fostering rigorous scholarship and encouraging the application of social science insights to the study of crime and criminal justice administration.

The ISC – Dr. B. S. Haikerwal and Prof. Sushil Chandra Award for the Senior Social Scientist was instituted in 1989 by the Indian Society of Criminology. The award is presented annually to a senior social scientist in recognition of outstanding and sustained contributions to criminology within the broad field of social sciences. It honours excellence in teaching, research, and scholarly leadership that has advanced criminological knowledge through interdisciplinary approaches.

List of Awardees

ISC – Prof. S. S. Srivastava Award

Prof. S. S. Srivastava

Professor S. S. Srivastava was a distinguished criminologist and academic leader known for his commitment to strengthening criminology through quality teaching, rigorous scholarship, and mentorship. Recognised for nurturing academic excellence and encouraging research-led learning, he contributed to the development of criminology as a vibrant discipline within higher education. His work and legacy continue to inspire educators and researchers to pursue innovation in teaching, build strong research cultures, and advance criminological knowledge with relevance to society and criminal justice practice.

The ISC – Professor S. S. Srivastava Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research in Criminology was instituted in 2005 by the Indian Society of Criminology (ISC), is presented to recognise individuals who demonstrate a strong flare for teaching and research in criminology. The award honours sustained excellence in pedagogy, scholarly output, and academic leadership that contributes to the advancement of criminological education and research. Through this recognition, ISC aims to encourage high standards in criminology teaching and to promote impactful, evidence-based research that strengthens the discipline and informs criminal justice policy and practice.

List of Awardees

Fellow of the Indian Society of Criminology (FISC)

The Fellow of the Indian Society of Criminology (FISC) is conferred at the Annual All India Criminology Conference to recognise individuals who have consistently helped advance the objectives of the Society through their sustained association with and contributions to the Indian Society of Criminology. The Fellowship honours members who support ISC’s mission by actively participating in its academic and professional activities such as conferences, seminars, and initiatives and by facilitating the Society’s growth and development through service, leadership, and continued engagement with its programmes and networks.

ISC - Young Criminologist Award

The ISC Best Research Paper Award, renamed in 2025 as the ISC - Young Criminologist Award, was instituted by the Indian Society of Criminology (ISC) to recognise promising early-career scholars for outstanding research contributions in criminology and criminal justice. Presented in connection with the Society’s academic activities and annual conference, the award honours high-quality, original research that demonstrates strong conceptual grounding, sound methodology, and relevance to contemporary issues in crime prevention, victim justice, corrections, policing, and criminal justice administration. Gold and Silver Medals are awarded to the top two contributors. The award is supported by a corpus contributed by Prof. M. Z. Khan, from which a cash prize of ₹5,000 (Gold Medal) and ₹3,000 (Silver Medal) is awarded. Through this recognition, ISC aims to encourage emerging criminologists to pursue rigorous scholarship and contribute evidence-informed insights to policy and practice.

ISC - Kumarappa-Reckless Award

Professor J. M. Kumarappa

Professor W. C. Reckless

ISC – Dr. B. S. Haikerwal and Prof. Sushil Chandra Award

Dr. B. S. Haikerwal

Professor Sushil Chandra

ISC – Prof. S. S. Srivastava Award

Prof. S. S. Srivastava

Fellow of the Indian Society of Criminology (FISC)

ISC - Young Criminologist Award

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