Centre at Jamal Mohamed College will offer Counselling on 16 Legal Issues
In a unique endeavour, Jamal Mohamed College on Monday set up a Legal Aid Clinic on its campus.
The clinic would be open on Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. It would offer counselling on 16 major legal issues such as legal consultation, conciliatory solution in marital matters, counselling for filling applications, legal assistance for those arrested, bail petitions for the arrested, compensation for victims involved in motor-vehicle accidents and compensation for land acquired by the government.
Speakers at the inaugural hailed the college management's commitment
to society, which reflected in the setting up of the clinic. They
said the institution was the first among the arts and science colleges
in the city and, perhaps, in the entire State, to have a legal aid
centre although such units functioned in law colleges in some places.
Principal District and Sesions Judge S. Thangakani, who inaugurated the clinic, said there was a strong case for creating awareness among the rural masses and the economically weaker sections of the advantage of the clinics. A college was a bridge between the targeted masses and the judiciary, as its students, who participated in NSS campus in villages, would disseminate information about the services being offered by the clinic to the rural masses.
First Additional District Judge V. Ramamoorthy spoke on the legal awareness camps being organized periodically in rural areas by the District Legal Aid Services Authority. He also appealed to the students to understand the importance of English for their career development in the present day scenario.
Additional District Judge P. Deivaraj and Chief Judicial Magistrate P. Durai Shanmugham spoke on the long-term benefits of the clinic.
Principal M. Sheik Mohammed said the college students were involved in creating awareness on consumer rights in three adopted villages. The setting up of the clinic was part of the management's commitment to the overall welfare of society irrespective of caste and creed.
Sub-Judge T. Ponprakash was among those who spoke.
The Hindu. Tuesday, March 18, 2008.