Law Colleges Must Adopt Two Or Talukas Around Them To Spread Legal Aid Awareness : Justice Lalit

Justice U.U Lalit, Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), opined on Sunday that law colleges must adopt the nearby talukas for spreading awareness about legal aid.

"We are impressing upon Bar Councils and law colleges and they must adopt one or two talukas around them, so that students can be given practical training to be part of large contingent of para-volunteers. They will impress on people about their rights of legal aid", he said.

Justice Lalit was speaking at an event organized by the NALSA to launch its Legal Services mobile app as well as its "Vision and Mission Statement" . Chief Justice of India NV Ramana also graced the occasion. The event was live streamed on Youtube from Vigya Bhawan, New Delhi. 

Justice U.U Lalit began his address by quoting the theme song 'Ehsas sable liy, Vishwas sag ke liye" and further mentioned that everyone associated with the initiative must be guided by essence of the theme song. He further stated that NALSA had interacted with various State Legal Services Authorities and that the response of the interactions had been positive. Despite the effects of the pandemic, a good number of cases, over 22 lakhs, were disposed of in Lok Adalats.

In order to further the accessibility of legal aid, Justice Lalit opined that it is essential that the services of post offices must be utilised owing to their well established networks. " If we are to reach the remotest areas of the country, it must be through post offices. Post offices will spread awareness about legal services", he said..

Justice Lalit also said that very soon boards will be established in every police station in order to inform stakeholders about the access to legal aid services. He also spoke about two areas in which the NALSA was striving. One, to impress upon State Bar Councils and Law Colleges to promote legal aid awareness. Second, to ensure that education of children housed in juvenile homes goes on uninterrupted.

"Pandemic has put us out of gear. There are many children in conflict with law who are housed in juvenile homes. Their education has suffered. We want to work towards their education", Justice Lalit opined. In this regard, a plan shall be formulated within 15 days, he said. 

Justice Lalit also remarked that Mahatma Gandhi had launched the Quit India movement on this very day i.e. on August 8. 

"We will try and work with the same endeavour", he concluded. 

Read report about the key note address of CJI Ramana here -  Threat To Human Rights & Bodily Integrity Highest At Police Stations : CJI NV Ramana