The tele-law programme (also referred to as tele-law scheme, or tele-law initiative) is a legal program by the Indian government launched in 2017 via the Common Service Centres. The programme connects the disadvantaged people in India requiring legal advice from panel lawyers through an e-interface platform.[1][2][3]
Background edit
The initiative was launched by then Union Law Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad on 6 June 2017. The program was an initiative by Ministry of Law and Justice in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to address cases at pre–litigation stage especially for the marginalized and disadvantaged.[4]
Process edit
Under the scheme, trained para legal volunteers taught residents of rural areas how to reach legal experts via video conferencing. Para legal volunteers are also responsible to help track the progress of the applicants' cases and grievances and maintain a record.[5] Legal aid is offered through lawyers with the State Legal Services Authorities (SALSA) and Common Services Center.[6][7]
Section 12 of Legal Services Authority Act, 1987[8] makes the service free of charge to women, children, victims of trafficking, physically disabled, mentally-ill, victims of natural disaster/ethnic violence, unorganised sector workers, low income earners, people under trial or in custody.[9]
Cases covered edit
The program offer pre–litigation stage legal aid to issues related to the following cases
- dowry
- family disputes
- divorce
- protection from domestic violence[10]
- sexual harassment
- violence against Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes members[11]
- maintenance of senior citizens,
- rights regarding land and property
- equal wages for men and women
- maternity benefits and prevention of foeticide
- prohibition of child marriage
- cases covered under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act), POSH (The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013,
- process of lodging an FIR[9]
Growth and impact edit
On October 30, 2020 with Tele-law had reached 4 Lakh beneficiaries.[12] By March 2021, Tele-law was operational 285 districts (including 115 aspirational districts) across 27 states.[13] The justice department announced in July 2021 that the Tele-Law program had grown by 369% in number of beneficiaries seeking legal advice from July 2020 having crossed 9 lakh beneficiaries.[14][15] As of July 2021 the tele-law programme operated in 633 districts (including 115 aspirational districts) across all the States and Union Territories in India using a network of 50,000 CSCs.[16]
References edit
- ^ "Centre launches scheme to provide legal aid easily in Bihar". The Indian Express. 6 August 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "India Tele-Law touches a new milestone with 400K beneficiaries". OpenGov Asia. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Launch of Tele-Law at Lucknow(U.P)". nalsa.gov.in. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ Editor, Insights (8 July 2021). "Tele-Law programme". INSIGHTSIAS. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ IANS (11 June 2017). "'Tele-Law' scheme for legal service to rural residents launched". Business Standard India. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "What Is Tele-Law? New Scheme Will Provide Free Legal Assistance to Rural India". The Better India. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Can Technology Finally Deliver on India's Legal Aid Promise? (SSIR)". ssir.org. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Tele Law Scheme | Department of Justice | Ministry of Law & Justice | GoI". doj.gov.in. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ a b "'Tele-Law' programme crosses 9 lakh beneficiaries". LawBeat. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Law Ministry tele-consultation service now addressing queries related to pandemic, lockdown". The Economic Times. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Govt plans tele-law facility across all CSCs in next fiscal: CSC e-Governance Services CEO". The Economic Times. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Tele-Law touches a new milestone; 4 Lakh beneficiaries receive legal advice under the initiative through CSC". Express Computer. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Justice Department releases second edition of 'Voice of Beneficiaries on Tele-Law'". ANI News. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Justice Department commemorates the milestone of crossing 9 lakh beneficiaries under its Tele-Law programme". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Dept. of Justice commemorates milestone of crossing 9 lakh beneficiaries under its Tele-Law programme". NewsOnAIR -. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Tele-law services empowering the voiceless: Ravi Shankar Prasad". The Hindu. 6 July 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 September 2021.