Consider Expanding Para-Legal Volunteers Scheme To All Police Stations In Delhi: High Court To Authorities

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed various stakeholders to consider steps to expand implementation of Delhi State Legal Services Authority’s (DSLSA) scheme for engaging paralegal volunteers (PLVs) in all police stations of the national capital.

The volunteers are meant to provide help in cases concerning missing children and offences against minors. The scheme was initially rolled out as a pilot project to be implemented in 50 police stations in the national capital.

A division bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani took note of the directions issued by the Supreme Court to implement the scheme across the country by taking DSLSA’s scheme as a model scheme.

The Supreme Court in September last year directed all State Legal Services Authorities and Legal Services Authorities of Union Territories to frame similar schemes at the earliest. It had directed circulation of DSLSA’s scheme for use by States and UTs as a model for framing the schemes.

The counsel representing Delhi Government, Police and DSLSA submitted that the question of pilot project coming to an end does not arise in view of the directions of Supreme Court.

Noting that the pilot scheme is to be implemented as a regular scheme throughout Delhi after the approval of Supreme Court, the bench said:

“Accordingly, the parties shall now consider the steps to be taken for expanding the scheme of empanelment of para-legal volunteers in all police stations within Delhi.”

The court granted liberty to the parties to file report on any impediments that they may encounter in taking the process forward.

After the court’s earlier order, DSLSA filed a report on January 30 indicating a roadmap for implementing the scheme in all police stations and also highlighting certain implementational issues.

Advocate Nandita Rao appearing for Delhi Government submitted that to expedite the matter, DSLSA may submit estimated budgetary requirements to the government for the same to be considered at appropriate level or its disbursal.

The matter will now be heard on February 24.

The court was hearing a criminal reference to streamline the functioning of juvenile justice delivery system under the Juvenile Justice Act and the Rules framed therein.

DSLSA’s pilot project involves engagement of para legal volunteers in 50 police stations in the city. These volunteers are deputed for assisting parents or children who are victims of sexual offences, wanting to register a case.

In July last year, the court was informed that the place of sitting and other basic amenities for the volunteers in police stations had been verified and the arrangements were found to be in order except at one police station.

Case Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. STATE