01 Mar 2019
The NSS Unit of REVA University organized the "7 Days NSS Special Camp" from 25th February to 3rd March 2019 in Mylanahalli Village which is in Bangalore North at a distance of around 12km from REVA University. The School of Legal Studies, REVA decided to provide free legal aid to the villagers during the NSS Special Camp and as a result, the team of faculty members from School of Legal Studies comprising of Dr. M.L. Kalicharan, Dr. Nagaraja V. and Dr. Sandeep M.N. were present in the camp on 26-02-2019 and 27-02-2019 for rendering legal opinion and legal aid on related matters.
Significance of the Legal Aid Camp:Article 39A of the Constitution of India provides that the State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice, on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities. Accordingly, the country has established the District, State and National Legal Services Authority under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. The core aims of the legislation is to organise legal aid camps, especially in rural areas, slums or labour colonies, encourage the settlement of disputes by way of negotiations, arbitration and conciliation and take appropriate measures for spreading legal literacy and legal awareness amongst the people. Free legal aid and legal literacy programme is one of the requirements stipulated by the Bar Council of India too and the same is evident from the BCI Rules for Legal Education.
The Legal Aid camp organised by School of Legal Studies, REVA University on 26-02-2019 and 27-02-2019 was mainly intended as an initial step in fulfilling the objectives mentioned in the above paragraph.
Legal Aid by School of Legal Studies, REVA University in Mylanahalli Village
The two day legal aid camp conducted by School of Legal Studies, REVA University witnessed villagers who attended the camp who were in need of legal aid and assistance in relation to land issues and such other incidental matters. Of many matters that were dealt with by the team of faculty members of School of Legal Studies, the most sensitive ones related to disputes relating to partition of property. One such matter related to a suit pending before the Devanahallli Civil Court (O.S. 484/2007) which has been posted for 13-03-2019 for orders. The suit related to partition of the villager's (Chikkanarayanappa, aged 67 years) mother's property, half of which was already acquired for airport project. The solution sought was clarity in the legal matter that was pending before the court and the stage in which the case has reached. A similar matter that was dealt by the legal aid team was that of a native of Mylanahalli (Pillavenkatarayappa, aged 70 years) who wanted (and was entitled to) a share in his grandfather's property. The matter was pending before the Devanahalli court (O.S. 360/2010) and was posted for next hearing on 15-03-2019. The solution that was sought was with regard to a registered will that was not known to the aggrieved till the time the same was used against him for debarring him from any claim made towards his grandfather's property.
Another matter that required legal assistance was a partition matter of an ancestral property of which the Khata was still in the name of the deceased. Though an application for converting the same to the name of a living person was made to the Panchayat, the same did not receive any reply. The solution to approach the Taluk Office for a joint Khata was provided to the villager (Thimmanna, aged 37 years). A related matter to the matter stated before was regarding partition of an ancestral property of which Khata remained in the villager's (Chandrappa, aged 60 years) deceased mother's name. The solution to get his 1/3rd share in the property was to first make an application to the survey department and then to Registrar's office and the same was conveyed to him.
A peculiar matter for which the team had to render assistance was that of Keshavmurthy's (aged 43 years) matter. The aggrieved had purchased the land from the first owner after paying the whole amount and from the aggrieved, the land was acquired for airport purposes. The sale amount is yet to reach the aggrieved as there has been a stay order against the same sought by the first owner. As the aggrieved sought a speedy remedy to the issue, the team suggested to enter into a compromise between the first owner and himself and as the solution was acceptable to the aggrieved, the terms and conditions of the compromise was told to the aggrieved.
Legal Awareness by School of Legal Studies Students
As part of Legal Aid camp the students of School of legal studies, REVA University had organized legal awareness programme in Myanahalli village on 27 February 2019. Which started with pictorial representation and slogans on the streets creating awareness. Further as part of the programme the students of legal studies have also performed two street plays in the village in Kannada. The theme chosen for the plays were ‘corruption’ as well as ‘water conservation’. Through the performances the students have aimed to raise awareness about these two crucial legal issues Corruption as an obstacle to development & they portrayed the importance of conserving water and the need to fight against corruption. The audience enjoyed and appreciated the performances.
Conclusion
The villagers who had come to the camp to seek legal aid were completely satisfied and the fact that the same villagers who had come on the first day of the camp came with the legal documents for a follow up on the second day of the camp is the proof of this.
