doj.gov.in Tele Law Scheme : Department Of Justice

Organisation : Department Of Justice
Scheme Name : Tele Law Scheme
Applicable For : All India
Website : https://doj.gov.in/
Terms & Conditions : https://www.statusin.in/uploads/26110-Tele-Law.pdf

DOI Tele Law Scheme

Minister of Law & Justice and Electronics & IT, Sh. Ravi Shankar Prasad today appealed to all those involved in the delivery of justice to join hands in improving the system to ensure that assistance is available to every citizen irrespective of his socio-economic position.

Related : Department Of Justice Apply for Nyaya Mitra Scheme : www.statusin.in/26104.html

He said this after the launch of three key legal aid and empowerment initiatives of the Department of Justice – including ‘Pro bono legal services’, ‘Tele law service’ and ‘Nyaya Mitra scheme’.

The Minister also mentioned that the country’s legal system would be digitally transformed, as digital inclusion holds the key to the country’s march towards Digital India.

Tele Law : Mainstreaming Legal Aid through Common Service Centre
Through the second initiative, launched by the Minister, the Department of Justice and NALSA are partnering with CSC- E- Governance Service Limited for mainstreaming legal aid to the marginalized communities through the Common Service Centers (CSCs).

This initiative, called ‘Tele Law’, is aimed at facilitating delivery of legal advice through an expert panel of lawyers – stationed at the State Legal Services Authorities (SLSA).

The project would connect lawyers with clients through video conferencing facilities at CSCs, operated by para legal volunteers. For this purpose, this initiative would also play a pivotal role in empowering 1000 women para legal volunteers.

The Minister said that using CSCs for mainstreaming legal aid services for the marginalized at the panchayat levels would ensure that legal aid reaches populations which remained untouched due to geographical challenges and/or lack of infrastructure.

He also described the use of CSCs as change agents, enablers of community participation and capacity building in rural settings as commendable. The project would be launched across 1800 panchayats in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, North Eastern States and Jammu & Kashmir.

About Us :
Department of Justice is a part of Ministry of Law & Justice as per the Allocation of Business Rules of Government of India. It is one of the oldest Departments of Govt. of India and was under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Union Home Secretary has been the Secretary of Department of Justice till 31st December 2009.

Keeping in view the increasing workload and formulating many policies and programmes for Judicial Reforms in the country, Secretary (Justice) was appointed on 1st January, 2010 in the Ministry of Law & Justice. The secretariat of the Department is located in Jaisalmer House, New Delhi.

FAQs :
1. What is access to justice?
Access to justice is the ability of people to seek and obtain a remedy through formal or informal institutions of justice for grievances.

There is no access to justice where citizens (especially marginalized groups) fear the system, see it as unfamiliar, and do not access it; where the justice system is financially inaccessible; where individuals have no lawyers;

Where they do not have information or knowledge of rights; or where there is a weak justice system. Access to justice involves legal protection, legal awareness, legal aid and counsel, adjudication and enforcement.

2. What is the GoI – UNDP Access to Justice Project About?
In 2009, a Project on Access to Justice for Marginalized People was launched by the Department of Justice in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme.

The Project aims to empower the poor and disadvantaged sections of society to seek and demand justice services. The Project also seeks to improve the institutional capacities of key justice service providers to enable them to effectively serve the poor and disadvantaged.

3. What is the duration of the Project?
The Project commenced in 2006 as a pilot phase for two years. The 1st Phase of the Project expanded from 2008-2013. The Project is currently in its second phase extending from 2013-2017.

4. What is the geographic focus of the Project?
The Project has focused activities in eight States of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

5. What are the broad deliverables of the Project?
With the overall objective of increasing access to justice for marginalised persons the Project has the following broad deliverables :
** Support national and local justice delivery institutions such as NALSA, SLSAs & SJAs

** Develop legal and representational capacity of Civil Society Organisations and networks providing access to justice services to disadvantaged groups

** Enhance legal awareness of women and men belonging to marginalized groups
** Inform policies and institutional structures through action research and studies