The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Take active part in legal literacy programmes, students told

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 30, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Take active part in legal literacy programmes, students told

Staff Reporter

National programme on involving law students to promote legal awareness launched

BANGALORE: The National Legal Services Authority on Sunday formally launched the national programme of involving law students in efforts to promote legal awareness.

The national programme called `Students Advocacy Programme Linking Institutes of Learning' (SAPLING) is part of National Legal Literacy Mission, which was launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in March last year. The other programme that was also launched was `Project Combat,' which is aimed at protection of the rights of girl child.

Speaking at a function, Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Cyriac Joseph called upon students to actively take part in the legal literacy programmes, which were of help to the common man.

"Here is an opportunity for you (students) to make use of your abundant potential and energy for changing the lifestyle of the common man. This will change the face of the State and will lead to a revolution," Mr. Joseph said.

Supreme Court Judge R.V. Raveendran pointed out that the Karnataka Legal Services Authority had for long been involving law students in making people aware of the subject.

Recalling the programmes at Parvatipuram and Rajajinagar in Bangalore during his tenure as Karnataka High Court judge, Mr. Raveendran said: "With the help of the State Legal Services Authority students were able get birth certificates, for which the local authorities demanded bribe."

By involving in such programmes students got to know the realities of life, Mr. Raveendran said. Another Supreme Court judge S.B. Sinha said the focus of legal awareness programmes should not be restricted to creating awareness about law and about their rights. People should also be told whom to approach, how to approach, and the forums available for enforcement of laws and their rights.

He said that 75 per cent of the people in the country did not know many basic facts.Supreme Court judge K.G. Balakrishnan, Karnataka High Court judge P. Vishwanatha Shetty and Advocate-General B.T. Parthasarathy spoke.

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