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