Ministry of Electronics & IT has partneredwith the Department of Justice, under Ministryof Law & Justice to provide citizensliving in rural areas, particularly the marginalizedcommunities, access to tele-legalconsultations through the network of CSCs.

Tele-Law means the use of communications and information technology for the delivery of legal information and advice. This e-interaction between lawyers and people would be through the video-conferencing infrastructure available at the CSCs.

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.

The project was started as a pilot on 31stDecember, 2017 for north-east states along with Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Under this project, a total of 800 CSCs were covered. The PLVs and the Panel Lawyers are appointed by CSC SPV in collaboration with the Department of Justice (DoJ). After successful implementation ofTele-Law service in North-East States and J&K, the project was launched in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on 10thDecember 2019. The project covered a total of 1000 CSCs from Bihar (i.e. 500) and Uttar Pradesh (i.e. 500). Under the project, the panel lawyersand PLVs for UP and Bihar weremade available via National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).

Who Can Avail Tele-law Service

• 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

Key elements of Tele-Law model

• VLE will provide space for PLV tosit at CSC
• Prepare a list of citizens availingservices
• Upload details of aggrievedpersons on the CSC portal
• Upload action taken by theapplicant/or benefit to theapplicant after receiving legaladvice
• CSC will provide technical support to theentire programme in the all nineStates
• CSC will design an online monitoring and an application to monitor the programme
• Preferably woman to bedeployed as PLV at the CSC
• PLV will facilitate tele-consultationwith the lawyer through videoconferencing at CSC
• PLV will keep a track on progress of applicant’s case/grievance andmaintain its record
• PLV will submit maintained recordsevery week to CSC SPV/DLSA (DistrictLegal Services Authority)
• Nyaya mitrasi.e.District Facilitation Centres tobe set up at CSCs to reducependency of 10-year-old cases
• CSCs to have access to Nyaya Mitras in 27 districts of North Easternstates and Jammu&Kashmir

Field Functionaries of the Project

Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs)
PLV is the first point of contact for any citizens/applicant who requires legal advice/consultancy. They are associated with CSCs of the locality. The PLVs associated are identified by CSCs/VLEs of the locality.
The eligibility criteria of PLVs:
1. Candidates must be 10th passed
2. Candidates must be from the same panchayat
3. They should know the local language and have good communication skills
4. They should not be directly related to VLE
5. Preference is given to women
6. Preference to be given to students who have undergone training under CSC projects
7. Preference to be given to those who have worked in groups like SHGs/SMC etc.

Roles and Responsibility

1. Identify different platforms at the village to dissimilate information about the scheme e.g. Anganwadi meetings, market, etc.
2. Tell citizens about the benefits of consultation through video conferencing, phone calls, and instant phone call provision.
3. Identification of citizens/cases for legal advice.
4. Listen carefully to the problems/grievances of citizens.
5. Convince citizens about the confidentiality of their grievances.
6. Should fill the requisite database of the legal advice seeker referred for advice to the Panel Lawyer (through the mobile application, optional)
7. Facilitate tele-consultation with the lawyer through video conferencing/phone call at CSC.
8. Should be active and keep track of progress and updates of the applicant’s case/grievance and maintain its record.
9. Should maintain confidentiality and not disclose any data/information without permission.

State Coordinators

For better and smooth functioning of the project state coordinators are associated with states and UTs. The function of the coordinators’ is to roll out and monitor the progress of the project in the state/UTs.
Roles and Responsibilities
1. Initiate and facilitate the implementation of the project.
2. Provide training to VLEs and PLVs.
3. Connect with local stakeholders.

Nyaya Mitra

Nyaya Mitras are Facilitation Centres set up at CSCs across districts to reduce pendency of 10-year-oldcases. Nyaya Mitra will serve under the Ministry of Electronics & IT and will be headed by a retired judicial/executive officer with legal background.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Actively identify cases pending for over ten years
• Provide assistance to litigants in speedy disposal of their cases
• Provide access to justice by connecting litigants with legal authorities, CSC Tele-law service, government agencies and civil society organizations
• Refer applicants from marginalized communities to Lok Adalats for dispute resolution
• Facilitate legal aid to under trial prisoners