Law College Dehradun of Uttaranchal University organized the 3rd Edition of Certificate Course on Legal Aid & Prison Reforms for the benefit of future ‘Nyaya Mitra’ on 11th April 2025 under the aegis of the Pro Bono Club established by the Department of Justice, Government of India, and the Legal Aid Center. Mr. Pradeep Mani Tripathi, Secretary of Uttarakhand State Legal Services Authority, HJS was the chief guest, and Prof. Vandana Arora, President and Dean (Law) of Punjab University, was present as the special guest.
Prof. Rajesh Bahuguna, Member of Uttarakhand State Legal Services Authority and Dean of Law College Dehradun, stated that the establishment of Pro Bono Clubs and Legal Aid Centers is a visionary step by the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, to encourage and train law students to become effective ‘Nyaya Mitra’ in practical life.
Shri Pradeep Mani Tripathi stated that legal aid is not only a fundamental right but also the urgent need for prisoners awaiting justice in jails. He noted that more than 5,525 prisoners in 12 districts of Uttarakhand are awaiting a fair trial. He briefed participants on various schemes run by the District, State and National Legal Services Authorities for legal aid and awareness. He also mentioned that Uttarakhand is moving towards starting a ‘Nyaya Mitra’ helpline with the goal of one village, one para legal volunteer.
Prof. Vandana Arora focused her speech on the concept of humane and rehabilitative justice system, enlightening participants on the topics like reconceptualization of imprisonment, prison reform, and the prison manual. College Principal Prof. (Dr.) Poonam Rawat, Head Dr. Radhey Shyam Jha and Chairperson of Legal Aid Centre Dr. Abhiranjan Dixit coordinated and organized the camp successfully, with more than 300 students from across the state participating.
