TNNLS to conduct free legal service camps

The Tamil Nadu National Law School (TNNLS) has plans to reach out to villages through conduct of free legal service camps from January next year, for broad-basing utility of its legal aid clinic. Though there has been a gradual increase in the number of aggrieved people to the legal aid clinic being run in the TNNLS campus at Navalur Kuttapattu every week since its inception in 2013, it has received feedback from the rural parts that the bus connectivity is a major hindrance.

The legal aid clinic functions from 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. on all Wednesdays. But, the visitors coming from villages face difficulty in returning to their homes due to the poor transport connectivity. Hence, there is a move to move out to villages and conduct free legal aid camps, Deepa Manickam, Faculty In-Charge of Legal Aid Committee, TNNLS, said.

An advocate along with student members of the Committee try to solve the issues, mainly pertaining to matrimony, property dispute, and debts, then and there. In some cases, the grievances are converted into petitions for pursuance by District Legal Services Authority, Ms. Manickam said.

The students of TNNLS have been taking part in moot court competitions, seminars, conferences and extra-curricular activities in various parts of the country to make their presence felt. Through the Legal Aid Committee, the students have, so far, conducted awareness programs in six institutions, including three schools in rural parts.

The latest legal awareness program was conducted last week at St. Joseph's College, benefiting 650 students. The hour-long program encompassed awareness sessions on RTI Act 2005 Cyber Crimes, Ill-effects and legislations against narcotics, and Domestic Violence Act.

A street play depicting outrage of modesty of a woman and ragging, a mime on Rights of Arrested persons and a short film on the Sexual Harassment of Women at workplace Act, 2013, also formed part of the awareness program.

College Principal Rev Fr. Andrew joined the students during the awareness program.

Last month, the Legal Aid Committee hosted its second edition of the intra-university “La Festo”, its flagship event featuring competitions aimed at promoting the advocacy and drafting skills of the law students like RTI, PIL drafting, and extempore.

Source:http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/tnnls-to-conduct-free-legal-service-camps/article20558313.ece