Fellowship' of social workers, lawyers helps poor undertrials navigate legal maze, get bail https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/fellowship-of-social-workers-lawyers-helps-poor-undertrials-navigate-legal-maze-get-bail/articleshow/97851565.cms
MOHUA DAS / TNN / Updated: Feb 13, 2023
The legal fellows helped file legal aid applications at the earliest, assisted panel advocates during court hearings, and coordinated with prison, legal and civic authorities for bail compliance and release following a favourable order. "It's surprising that we created institutions like National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and Legal Aid Clinics but they're unable to cater to these needs. It's a problem of governance," said Supreme Court judge PS Narasimha at the launch of a report last month of 9,570 undertrials across eight state prisons that the initiative had reached out to between 2018 to 2021.
The report revealed that only 7.91% of the undertrials had utilised the legal aid services they were entitled to between 2016 and 2019 while 20% seeking help were females. "That's high given that women comprise 4% of the prison population. This shows they're more vulnerable and in need of social support," said Raghavan adding that 15% of undertrials were below 20 years age and "should be taken out of the system before their criminalisation takes place" while 22% had no source of income which he felt was telling of "the level of marginalisation of undertrials."