Editor-in-Chief of APN News and Managing Director of India Legal Rajshri Rai on Saturday said that language barrier was one of the reasons for limited access of the common man to justice. 

Speaking during the launch of the India Legal App, she said the multilingual app will provide access to justice to people in their own language.

She said the inspiration behind the app was the common man, and his need for justice.

Speaking in Hindi, Rai said this app was a small step in the right direction to serve the people. She said the app would hold the hand of the last man standing and keep holding him till he got justice.

Attorney General R. Venkataramani hailed the India Legal app, saying that endeavours such as these would go a long way in understanding the needs of justice for different sections of the community. It was important to reach out to the most deprived sections of the society and translate the access to justice for those who need it the most.

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Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who could not reach Bengaluru for the event, sent his best wishes for the initiative, saying that it was a momentous occasion for the judiciary and the people at large. 

Noting that it would complement the Government’s vision for E-court, the SG said the endeavour would ensure justice for the masses and further prove to be a window for access to justice.

Former IIM Bangalore Dean Prof Trilochan Shastry, while showering praises on the India Legal team, especially its Managing Director Rajshri Rai for the novel initiative, said he was not very knowledgeable on legal issues, but would like to extend all possible help for the app.

He said he would like to engage with Rajshri Rai’s team and help them in whatever way possible. 

Stating that the future was in the hands of the youth, the former Dean suggested the team to recruit people in the age group of 35-45 years, since they had a rich experience of around 10-15 years and exude .

He hailed the app for providing the services in six languages, saying that majority of people in India could not avail legal aid since they did not know English and also due to various other reasons.

The first call on the app came from Meerut. An employee alleged that his Employer did not give him money. Justice Venkatachaliah directed him to file a case against the employer and to approach the High Court.

The second call came from Chennai. A woman, speaking in Tamil, said that she was in a live-in relationship with a man, who clicked her private photographs and was now blackmailing her. As per the woman, her former live-in partner was threatening to upload her photographs on social media. Justice Venkatachaliah advised her to file a complaint with the police.

Former Chief Justice of India M.N. Venkatachaliah launched the much-awaited India legal app. The former CJI said the app will not only cater to those seeking justice, but also help the large legal community, adding that the initiative would help in disposing of around 70 percent new cases.

Senior Advocate and Balaji Foundation Chairperson Pradeep Rai, National Law University Delhi Vice Chancellor Prof (Dr) GS Bajpai, Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association President Manoj K. Mishra and India Legal Editor-in-Chief Inderjit Badhwar took part in the webinar.

The India Legal App is a path-breaking legal helpline that allows every citizen of India to access high calibre legal help from the safety of her/his home at the touch of a button.

It intends to change the way legal aid is made available to the people. It gives ease of access, as a person can have a jargon-free discussion on complex matters with lawyers.

The complete assurance of privacy and easy payment methods is certain to make the legal experience of people very different from interminable hassles they may have heard about.

The app can be used in 6 Indian languages, including English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali and Punjabi.

The app is also useful in times of distress as a person sensing trouble or threat can contact a legal ‘friend’ till the time the police arrives.

Lawyers associated with the India Legal App assure to help people 24×7, ready to guide them through extremely tough situations, wherever they are in the country.

The India Legal App is an embodiment of trust and faith. Any individual can install this app on their mobile and directly communicate with a lawyer.

Slowly, this facility will extend to even those without mobile phones. They can avail of this service through their nearest common service centres, or Jan Suvidha Kendra/Setu/e-Seva Kendra/Pragya Kendra.

The service will be available at a reasonable cost, which can then also be paid at that service centre.

The India Legal App services include:

Free legal advice over the phone.

Payment of a specified amount for legal advice through audio and video calls.

Payment of a specified amount for document preparation.

Payment of annual membership fees to receive legal services.

Additionally, the India Legal App provides legal information and related videos to ensure users of the India Legal App are well-informed about legal matters.

India Legal is a respected politico-legal weekly magazine (available both in print and online) in the country, with complete professional journalistic and expert inputs. Its readers include lawyers, law firms and those related to the judiciary and justice system.

The India Legal Research Foundation (ILRF) is a non-profit organisation equipped with senior lawyers and devoted to bring justice to those who deserve it, but cannot afford it. ILRF provides free legal aid to the deserving and people in need.

Senior Advocate and Balaji Foundation Chairperson Pradeep Rai on Saturday said the new app launched by the India Legal Research Foundation (ILRF) was close to his heart since it would provide access to justice to many people, who were either underprivileged or did not know how to seek justice for themselves. 

Attending the launch of the app through a webinar, Rai said the Preamble of India mentioned securing social, economic and political justice for all of its citizens. 

This could be achieved by bringing equality before law. The App will surely help the young students, lawyers and even senior Advocates such as Justice Venkatachaliah, added the Senior Advocate. 

Talking about the app, he said it recently took up a case of around 10-15 people from Azamgarh, who had been declared dead on papers. The helpless people were running from pillar to post to prove themselves alive. The app successfully took up this case and managed to get justice for them.

The Senior Advocate quoted Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, who said that people should make such efforts that should benefit the last man standing. He said the aim of the app was that no one should be left behind in getting access to justice due to lack of resources or other reasons.

Expressing happiness over the large number of lawyers, Advocates and students participating in the programme, Rai said starting from mediation to litigation, the app catered to all categories and provided a variety of services.

Rai advised people to first go for mediation and in case it did not work, they should consider filing a case.

Former Chief Justice of India M.N. Venkatachaliah launched the much-awaited India Legal app today, saying that the initiative will not only cater to those seeking justice, but also help the large legal community. It would also help in disposing of around 70 percent new cases, he added.

Senior Advocate Rai said he was in awe of former CJI Venkatachaliah and Attorney General R. Venkataramani, adding that the two legal luminaries were an inspiration for many young lawyers and a source of energy for all Advocates.

AG Venkataramani, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, National Law University Delhi Vice Chancellor Prof (Dr) GS Bajpai, Former IIM Bangalore Dean Prof Trilochan Sastry and Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association President Manoj K. Mishra took part in the webinar. 

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday, announced Praful Patel and Supriya Sule as the new working presidents of NCP. The announcement was made by Pawar in the presence of Ajit Pawar at the 25th anniversary of the party.

The Nationalist Congress Party was formed by Sharad Pawar and Former Meghalaya CM and former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma in 1999.

After a month of withdrawing his resignation, NCP chief Sharad Pawar named Sule and Patel as the NCP’s working presidents. The NCP chief withdrew his resignation after the party workers protested against his decision.

Speaking to the media about the new NCP working presidents, NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said Supriya Sule and Praful Patel have been made the working presidents so that the election work and Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha work can be divided. He added, the NCP working presidents have been allotted more responsibilities on their shoulders as the elections are near. This is for handling the 2024 Lok Sabha election work, he continued.

Earlier while withdrawing his resignation, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had asserted that he looks forward to do more in the fields of agriculture, cooperation, education, sports, culture amongst other. Furthermore, he also had affirmed that he would focus on issues related to the youth, student workers, Dalit, Tribals and other weaker sections of the society.

Supriya Sule, the daughter of Sharad Pawar has been involved in NCP’s major decision as the party’s top brass. Sule came into active politics with her election as Rajya Sabha MP in September 2006. In 2009, she took over the Baramati Lok Sabha Constituency, which was represented by Sharad Pawar until then. Considering Sule’s role in politics in recent days, it is seen that she keeps a hectic travel calendar across several districts in short spans and attends all programs.

On the other hand, Praful Patel is the son of Indian National Congress politician Manoharbhai Patel. Patel followed his father footstep and entered into politics. Currently, he is the member of the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra and was elected to the 10th, 11th, and 12th Lok Sabha three times in a row. In between 2000-2006, Praful Patel was re-elected twice to the Rajya Sabha. Furthermore, he has also served on a number of parliamentary committees throughout his career in politics.

After announcing the new NCP working presidents, Sharad Pawar in a press conference affirmed that he will discuss alliance with opposition parties and will work together for the Lok Sabha polls. Pawar also confirmed the party’s participation in the opposition meet in Bihar. Speaking about snubbing Ajit Pawar, the NCP Chief said that the former will not be unhappy. Sharad Pawar has groomed many young leaders namely Supriy Sule, nephew Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil, who are now the party’s frontline leaders.