Joydeb Sarkar2003: Made Some Stub V1!

2023-08-03T07:34:05Z

Made Some Stub V1!

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{{Short description|Legal programme by the Indian government}}
{{Orphan|date=August 2023}}

{{Use Indian English|date=September 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
'''The tele-law programme''' (also referred to as '''tele-law scheme''', or '''tele-law initiative''') is a legal program by the [[Government of India|Indian government]] launched in 2017 via the [[Common Service Centres]]. The programme connects the disadvantaged people in India requiring legal advice from panel lawyers through an e-interface platform.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-08-06|title=Centre launches scheme to provide legal aid easily in Bihar|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/tele-law-centre-launches-scheme-to-provide-legal-aid-easily-in-bihar/|access-date=2021-09-11|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-04|title=India Tele-Law touches a new milestone with 400K beneficiaries|url=https://opengovasia.com/india-tele-law-touches-a-new-milestone-with-400k-beneficiaries/|access-date=2021-09-11|website=OpenGov Asia|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-07|title=Launch of Tele-Law at Lucknow(U.P)|url=https://nalsa.gov.in/notifications/13|access-date=2021-09-11|website=nalsa.gov.in|language=en}}</ref>

== Background ==
The initiative was launched by then Union Law Minister, [[Ravi Shankar Prasad]] on 6 June 2017. The program was an initiative by Ministry of Law and Justice in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to address cases at pre–litigation stage especially for the marginalized and disadvantaged.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Editor|first=Insights|date=2021-07-08|title=Tele-Law programme|url=https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/07/08/tele-law-programme/|access-date=2021-09-11|website=INSIGHTSIAS|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Process ==
Under the scheme, trained para legal volunteers taught residents of rural areas how to reach legal experts via video conferencing. Para legal volunteers are also responsible to help track the progress of the applicants' cases and grievances and maintain a record.<ref>{{Cite news|last=IANS|date=2017-06-11|title='Tele-Law' scheme for legal service to rural residents launched|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/tele-law-scheme-for-legal-service-to-rural-residents-launched-117061100558_1.html|access-date=2021-09-11}}</ref> Legal aid is offered through lawyers with the State Legal Services Authorities (SALSA) and Common Services Center.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-06-13|title=What Is Tele-Law? New Scheme Will Provide Free Legal Assistance to Rural India|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/104691/union-government-launches-tele-law-scheme-empower-rural-india-legally/|access-date=2021-09-11|website=The Better India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Can Technology Finally Deliver on India's Legal Aid Promise? (SSIR)|url=https://ssir.org/articles/entry/can_technology_finally_deliver_on_indias_legal_aid_promise|access-date=2021-09-11|website=ssir.org|language=en-us}}</ref>

Section 12 of Legal Services Authority Act, 1987<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tele Law Scheme {{!}} Department of Justice {{!}} Ministry of Law & Justice {{!}} GoI|url=https://doj.gov.in/page/tele-law-scheme|access-date=2021-09-11|website=doj.gov.in}}</ref> makes the service free of charge to women, children, victims of trafficking, physically disabled, mentally-ill, victims of natural disaster/ethnic violence, unorganised sector workers, low income earners, people under trial or in custody.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title='Tele-Law' programme crosses 9 lakh beneficiaries|url=https://lawbeat.in/news-updates/tele-law-programme-crosses-9-lakh-beneficiaries|access-date=2021-09-11|website=LawBeat|language=en}}</ref>

== Cases covered ==
The program offer pre–litigation stage legal aid to issues related to the following cases

* dowry
* family disputes
* divorce
* protection from domestic violence<ref>{{Cite news|title=Law Ministry tele-consultation service now addressing queries related to pandemic, lockdown|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/law-ministry-tele-consultation-service-now-addressing-queries-related-to-pandemic-lockdown/articleshow/82904102.cms|access-date=2021-09-11}}</ref>
* sexual harassment
* violence against [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes]] members<ref>{{Cite news|title=Govt plans tele-law facility across all CSCs in next fiscal: CSC e-Governance Services CEO|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/govt-plans-tele-law-facility-across-all-cscs-in-next-fiscal-csc-e-governance-services-ceo/articleshow/72672335.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2021-09-11}}</ref>
* maintenance of senior citizens,
* rights regarding land and property
* equal wages for men and women
* maternity benefits and prevention of foeticide
* prohibition of child marriage
* cases covered under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act), POSH (The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013,
* process of lodging an [[First information report|FIR]]<ref name=":0" />

== Growth and impact ==
On October 30, 2020 with Tele-law had reached 4 [[Lakh]] beneficiaries.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-04|title=Tele-Law touches a new milestone; 4 Lakh beneficiaries receive legal advice under the initiative through CSC|url=https://www.expresscomputer.in/news/tele-law-touches-a-new-milestone-4-lakh-beneficiaries-receive-legal-advice-under-the-initiative-through-csc/68403/|access-date=2021-09-11|website=Express Computer|language=en-US}}</ref> By March 2021, Tele-law was operational 285 districts (including 115 aspirational districts) across 27 states.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Justice Department releases second edition of 'Voice of Beneficiaries on Tele-Law'|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/justice-department-releases-second-edition-of-voice-of-beneficiaries-on-tele-law20210315230800/|access-date=2021-09-11|website=ANI News|language=en}}</ref> The justice department announced in July 2021 that the Tele-Law program had grown by 369% in number of beneficiaries seeking legal advice from July 2020 having crossed 9 lakh beneficiaries.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Justice Department commemorates the milestone of crossing 9 lakh beneficiaries under its Tele-Law programme|url=http://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1733120|access-date=2021-09-11|website=pib.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-06|title=Dept. of Justice commemorates milestone of crossing 9 lakh beneficiaries under its Tele-Law programme|url=https://newsonair.com/2021/07/06/dept-of-justice-commemorates-milestone-of-crossing-9-lakh-beneficiaries-under-its-tele-law-programme/|access-date=2021-09-11|website=NewsOnAIR -|language=en-US}}</ref> As of July 2021 the tele-law programme operated in 633 districts (including 115 aspirational districts) across all the States and Union Territories in India using a network of 50,000 CSCs.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-07-06|title=Tele-law services empowering the voiceless: Ravi Shankar Prasad|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tele-law-services-empowering-the-voiceless-ravi-shankar-prasad/article35174239.ece|access-date=2021-09-11|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Law of India]]

Tele-law programme - Revision history

Joydeb Sarkar2003: Made Some Stub V1!