Law College Dehradun, faculty of Uttaranchal University, has been linked with the Pro-Bono Legal Services Scheme of the Department of Justice, Government of India by establishing a Pro-Bono club in the college on 29 Sept. 2022. It was inaugurated by the District and Sessions Judge and Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority, Mr. Pradeep Pant. Secretary of District Legal Services Authority, Senior Civil Judge Mr. Harsh Yadav, Chancellor of the University Shri. Jitendra Joshi, Vice-President Dr. Satbir Singh Sehgal and Vice Chancellor Prof. Dharam Buddhi were present as special guests. The event was conducted in hybrid mode. Ms. Mahima Khera, Program Associate from the Department of Justice, Government of India, participated in this program online.
At the outset, Pro Vice Chancellor of
the university Prof. Rajesh Bahuguna stated that Pro-Bono Legal services
programme was launched in April 2017. An initiative of the Department of
Justice, which aimed at fulfilling the Department's critical mandate of
enhancing "access to justice"
for marginalised sections of the society and the State's constitutional
obligation of providing "free
legal aid" for all. The programme seeks to put in place an
institutional structure which will promote pro-bono culture in India. On one
hand, the programme would facilitate delivery of quality legal assistance
to the marginalised communities, on the other hand it would ensure that lawyers
who volunteer their valuable time and service, towards this public service, are
duly recognized for their contribution.
While addressing the function,
Secretary, Legal Aid Authority, Mr. Harsh Yadav underlined the importance of
Nyaya-Bandhu and Tele law project. He emphasized on better coordination between
Pro-Bono Club, Law College Dehradun and State Legal Aid Authority for achieving
the objectives of this project.
The Vice Chancellor of
the University, Prof. Dharma Buddhi said that more than 5500 alumni are our
property after taking education from Law College Dehradun. A record will be set
by the university by connecting maximum alumni to the Nyaya Bandhu scheme.
The Chief Guest of the
function, Shri Pradeep Pant, District and Sessions Judge, Dehradun in his
address thanked the organizers of the function and said that providing free
legal aid is a national obligation as per the Directive Principles of the
Constitution. Nyaya-Bandhus have an important role in the legal aid movement.
Law students will act as a bridge in this direction by using the knowledge of
law and modern technology. Describing the Indian Constitution as the most
important event in Indian history, Shri Pant advised the Pro-Bono Club to work
as a social and technical platform to fulfil the objectives of the
Constitution.
Those present on the
occasion were Chancellor Shri Jitender Joshi, Shri Harsh Yadav, Vice President
Dr. Satbir Sehgal, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dharam Buddhi, Pro Vice Chancellor
Prof. Rajesh Bahuguna, Prof. Poonam Rawat, Kumar Ashutosh, Dr. Anil Dixit,
Abhiranjan Dixit, Aman Rab, Shiva Verma, Rajat Dua, Shankar Sharma and hundreds
of faculty members and students.
