1st NUSRL Legal Aid Fest, 2015
One of the major objectives of our legal system, or any, for that matter, is to provide justice. But sometimes, due to economic or other disability, securing justice may seem a distant road. In order to ensure Justice in this matter, Article 39-A of the glorious Constitution of our Nation comes to aid.
Article 39A of the Constitution of India reads that The State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice, on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities.
Additionally, Articles 14 and 22(1) also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before law and a legal system which promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity to all. In order to ensure these rights, Legal Aid commits to the cause and promise of the Constitution and make the less privileged, not so much on the road to seek their rights.
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to provide free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society and to organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes and thus is fulfilling the objective of providing legal aid to the not so privileged.
A nationwide network has been envisaged under the Act for providing legal aid and assistance. National Legal Services Authority is the apex body constituted to lay down policies and principles for making legal services available under the provisions of the Act and to frame most effective and economical schemes for legal services. It also disburses funds and grants to State Legal Services Authorities and NGOs for implementing legal aid schemes and programs.
The Act also recognizes the institutions imparting legal education as one of the nodal point to render legal aid. It mandates that every law college or university should have a legal aid clinic and act in accordance with the collaboration with respective State Legal Aid Services authority.
In the tenure of Chairmanship of the then Hon’ble Executive Chairman, Mr. Justice Altamas Kabir, the participation of youth is also recognized and acted upon by the following policies of NALSA i.e. Legal Literacy Programs in schools and colleges started in an organized manner with the assistance of the Department of Education in all States. School Legal Literacy Clubs set up in all High Schools under the State Legal Services Authorities in order to create legal awareness, obedience to law and spread the philosophy of rule of law amongst the younger generation.
NUSRL, Ranchi as an premiere institution in our country imparting legal education has a Centre for Legal Aid Program (CLAP) since its inception. CLAP has categorically identified ignorance to be one of the major problems of our society and has been working with the alleviation of the same in the local niches. As a response to this perceived problem we believe that legal awareness must be spread not only on the local but at the national level. At national level there is no common platform where educational institutions that are doing work in the arena of legal aid interact, share their experience, adopt and learn each other’s practices.
The centre keeping their belief in the two fold component of legal aid i.e. action & awareness; aspires to organize a “1st NUSRL legal aid fest” that shall be named after the pioneering article of legal aid in our constitution i.e. “39-A”.
The events that will be the part of this Legal Aid Fest are as follows:
Thus, on 2nd and 3rd May 2015, Centre for Legal Aid Program(CLAP) of NUSRL, Ranchi is organizing simulating, though provoking and first time ever in India their maiden edition of Legal Aid fest, 39-A.
NOTE: There can be insertion of new events or change in the aforesaid subject to the final schedule.
Article 39A of the Constitution of India reads that The State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice, on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities.
Additionally, Articles 14 and 22(1) also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before law and a legal system which promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity to all. In order to ensure these rights, Legal Aid commits to the cause and promise of the Constitution and make the less privileged, not so much on the road to seek their rights.
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to provide free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society and to organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes and thus is fulfilling the objective of providing legal aid to the not so privileged.
A nationwide network has been envisaged under the Act for providing legal aid and assistance. National Legal Services Authority is the apex body constituted to lay down policies and principles for making legal services available under the provisions of the Act and to frame most effective and economical schemes for legal services. It also disburses funds and grants to State Legal Services Authorities and NGOs for implementing legal aid schemes and programs.
The Act also recognizes the institutions imparting legal education as one of the nodal point to render legal aid. It mandates that every law college or university should have a legal aid clinic and act in accordance with the collaboration with respective State Legal Aid Services authority.
In the tenure of Chairmanship of the then Hon’ble Executive Chairman, Mr. Justice Altamas Kabir, the participation of youth is also recognized and acted upon by the following policies of NALSA i.e. Legal Literacy Programs in schools and colleges started in an organized manner with the assistance of the Department of Education in all States. School Legal Literacy Clubs set up in all High Schools under the State Legal Services Authorities in order to create legal awareness, obedience to law and spread the philosophy of rule of law amongst the younger generation.
NUSRL, Ranchi as an premiere institution in our country imparting legal education has a Centre for Legal Aid Program (CLAP) since its inception. CLAP has categorically identified ignorance to be one of the major problems of our society and has been working with the alleviation of the same in the local niches. As a response to this perceived problem we believe that legal awareness must be spread not only on the local but at the national level. At national level there is no common platform where educational institutions that are doing work in the arena of legal aid interact, share their experience, adopt and learn each other’s practices.
The centre keeping their belief in the two fold component of legal aid i.e. action & awareness; aspires to organize a “1st NUSRL legal aid fest” that shall be named after the pioneering article of legal aid in our constitution i.e. “39-A”.
The events that will be the part of this Legal Aid Fest are as follows:
- Symposium of legal aid
- National Level Nukkad competition
- PIL Drafting
- Client Counselling
- Student's Legal Debate
- Aware n Spread Competition
Thus, on 2nd and 3rd May 2015, Centre for Legal Aid Program(CLAP) of NUSRL, Ranchi is organizing simulating, though provoking and first time ever in India their maiden edition of Legal Aid fest, 39-A.
NOTE: There can be insertion of new events or change in the aforesaid subject to the final schedule.