Telelaw in Aspirational districts

Department of Justice is implementing the Tele-Law programme in the Aspirational Districts that enables common man to receive legal advice as first step towards access to justice.

Overview of Telelaw

Tele-Law means the use of communications and information technology for the delivery of legal information and advice. Department of Justice has partnered with National Legal Service Authority (NALSA) and CSC e-Governance Service India Limited for mainstreaming legal aid to the marginalised communities through Common Services Center (CSC).

The concept of Tele-Law is to facilitate delivery of legal advice through a panel of lawyers stationed at the state Legal Services Authorities (SALSA) and CSC. The project initiates to connect citizens with lawyers through video conferencing facilities by the Para-Legal Volunteers stationed at identified 1800 panchayat.

States covered

• Assam
• Arunachal Pradesh
• Bihar
• Jammu & Kashmir
• Meghalaya
• Manipur
• Mizoram
• Nagaland
• Sikkim
• Tripura
• Uttar Pradesh

Citizen Eligible for Tele-Law Service

Legal advice is made available to everyone under Tele-Law service.

Advice is free of Cost to those who are eligible for free legal aid under Section 12 of LSA Act,1987 such as 

• Marginalised communities like SC/ ST/ OBC, persons with disabilities
• Women
• Senior citizens
• Industrial workers
• Victims of trafficking and commercial and sexual exploitation
• Victims of acid attack
• Victims of drug abuse
• Victims of disaster, ethnic violence, caste atrocity, earthquake or industrial disaster
• Persons in custody
• Persons with low income

For all others a nominal fee of Rs INR 30/- charged for each consultation.

Implementation process

Para Legal Volunteer (PLV) is the first point of contact between rural citizens and lawyers providing legal aid through CSC. They are not lawyers, but have basic understanding of legal process. They hear the grievances of citizens and offer appropriate support/suggestion for legal aid. They also help the citizens understand legal issues and advice given by lawyers. A trained PLV is available in a CSC for minimum ten days in a month under the Scheme. 

The user is registered and an an online appointment to connect with a Panel Lawyer via a VCF (Video Conferencing Facility/ chat and/or telephone available in the CSC is fixed. During the consultation legal advise is provided to the users by the Panel Lawyer.

Telelaw in Aspirational districts

The Tele law programme has been expanded to cover the Aspirational districts. To ensure that this service is effectively used 28060, Tele-Law Para legal volunteers from within the communities would be engaged to act as bridge to connect the beneficiary with the Panel Lawyer.

Source : Tele-law scheme website