Over the years, the committee has grown and diversified itself in a myriad of ways. Some of our achievements have received humble attention from various stakeholders. The same are listed below:
Recognition in Academia
1. Recognition in an Academic Paper presented at Lund University
The endeavours of the Committee in the field of education have been recognized in a publication at Lund University, Sweden. It is a matter of great pride, being the second publication of 2024 where LAAC has been recognized for its unending efforts towards social and legal change.
On 3-4 February 2023, the eve of the 35th anniversary of the Unnikrishnan Judgement on the Right to Education, LAAC conducted a Paper Presentation and Discussion Series on the Right to Education Act and its implementation in states pan-India. Judging this paper presentation, Prof. Pooja Pandey and Nalini Juneja, two of our esteemed panelists subsequently authored a paper titled, “Networking towards Enhancing Justiciability of the Right to Education (RTE) in India”, which was presented at the conference at Lund University in late 2023. The paper was a salute to the efforts made by several people in the field of RTE from policy professionals to lawyers and educationists, to challenge the indifference among lawyers towards the right to education. The paper highlighted the genesis, on-ground efforts and synergies of these people in initiating pedagogical reforms in legal education.
In the context of legal apathy to RTE, the paper shed light on the efforts made by the Committee headed by our chairperson and faculty in-charge, Dr. Anjali Thanvi. In 2017, the Committee members made a presentation at a conference to show the disparities in the implementation of the RTE Act in government primary schools. The Committee adopted a rural school to stay connected with ground realities and initiated a project to assist parents from weaker sections in applying for reserved seats in private schools under the RTE Act. Facing a shortage of law students for outreach, they turned to other local colleges, organizing a competition in light of the initiative “Mil Kar Karein RTE Ko Sarthak”, to fill reserved seats and conduct RTE orientation sessions. This collaborative effort successfully helped secure seats for 390 children. Dr. Anjali Thanvi’s hands-on involvement and leadership were crucial to the LAAC’s achievements. Additionally, during the COVID lockdown, the Committee worked online to compile state guidelines related to the RTE Act, resulting in a comprehensive report serving as a valuable reference tool. The paper also spoke about the efforts being recognized when the High Court of Jodhpur requested their expertise in revisiting and reporting on schools investigated earlier, showcasing the impact of their work.
2. Featured as a Case Study in a publication in the Asian Journal of Legal Education
The Committee has been featured as a compelling case study in a journal article, by Professor Ajay Pandey, published in the ‘Asian Journal of Legal Education.’ The Article titled ‘Clinical Legal Education and Access to Justice During and Beyond COVID-19: Some Reflections of Indian Experience’ highlights our impactful work and contributions through innovative approaches to the legal aid landscape. Forever excited to continue making a positive impact.
3. Report on Labour Law Reforms in India
The Committee collaborated with the Migration & Asylum Project [“MAP”] to provide research assistance in the drafting of MAP’s flagship report analysing the proposed Labour Law Reforms by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, which aim to provide decent working conditions and improved quality of life for workers, employment generation and simplification of Labour Laws for ease of doing business. MAP is India’s first dedicated law centre for forced migration and displacement. Started in 2013, it seeks to end the marginalisation of one of the most vulnerable communities in the world – migrants and refugees – by making the Rule of Law central to addressing human rights challenges and ensuring grassroots justice.
12 members were selected from the Committee to assist MAP. The research assistants were tasked with initiating research on the following 4 Labour Codes: The Code of Wages, the Industrial Relations Code, the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code, and the Social Security Code. They were tasked with finding out the redressal mechanism under the relevant Code and enquiring whether appropriate authorities exist for adjudication of disputes and implementation of the Code. They were further tasked with finding out the powers and responsibilities of these authorities, and the procedure of filing a complaint under them. Lastly, they were also to analyse the penalties imposed under the Code for its violation of the touchstone of necessity and proportionality.
The members of the Committee provided a systematic research report with an analysis of Central and State rules and contemporary Labour Law reforms. The final report will be published soon in collaboration with the World Bank.
Presentations and Conferences
1. Attended the First Asia Pro-Bono Roundtable of 2024
The Committee recently participated in the First Asia Pro-Bono Roundtable of 2024, held on March 14th. This significant event aimed to delve into the role of pro-bono initiatives in upholding the rule of law amidst evolving challenges in the Asia Pacific region. The primary objective of the roundtable was to foster discussions on the indispensable role played by pro-bono efforts in maintaining legal support systems, particularly in the face of emerging challenges. Through plenary debates and breakout sessions, participants explored various facets of pro-bono engagement, focusing on its relevance in addressing issues such as natural disasters, socio-political crises, and threats to freedom of expression.
The Roundtable was organised by Babseacle in collaboration with esteemed organizations such as Pro Bono SG, TrustLaw, GongGam Human Rights Law Foundation, Australian Pro Bono Centre, International Bridges to Justice, Centre for Law and Transformative Change, PILnet, and GongGam. The roundtable convened diverse stakeholders, including legal professionals, advocates, and representatives from civil society organizations. By bringing together such a broad spectrum of voices, the event facilitated comprehensive discussions and knowledge-sharing opportunities. The impact of these deliberations will help in bolstering pro-bono initiatives across the Asia Pacific region.
2. Presentation at the 9th Global Alliance for Justice Education Conference, Mexico (2017)
The Global Alliance for Justice Education [“GAJE”] held its 9th Worldwide Conference on the campuses of Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Puebla and Universidad Autónoma of Tlaxcala in Tlaxcala in 2017. The theme of the conference was “Breaking Down Walls: The Transformative Power of Justice Education” and consisted of both a General Conference and a Training-of-Trainers Workshop. The former Convenor of the Committee, Ms. Sonali Khatri, was invited to speak about the causes and initiatives taken up by the Committee in front of around 150 delegates from across the world. The presentation received a phenomenal response as the Committee’s initiatives won laurels all across.
3. Presentation at 2nd Asia Clinical Legal Education Conference, Thailand (2023)
Taking inspiration from the 1st Asia Clinical Legal Education [“CLE”] Conference held in Cambodia in 2005, the 2nd Asia CLE Conference was held from May 26- 28, 2023 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Conference was organised in partnership between Babseacle and the Faculty of Law of Chiang Mai University. The theme for the year 2023 was “A Generation of Clinical Evolution: Achieving Greater Access to Justice”. The Conference explored and highlighted the successful evolution of CLE experiences throughout the Asia region, as well as globally.
The Committee was invited to the Conference to conduct an interactive session on the topic “Enhancing Access to Justice: Leveraging Clinical Legal Education & Pro Bono Initiatives for Social Change”. The members talked about the various initiatives taken by the Committee, including the Smart Village Initiative, Project Unnati, and Pro Bono Activities, and delved into the challenges faced. The session was highly appreciated by all the attendees. It was a very fruitful experience because a lot of stakeholders from different nationalities and backgrounds graced the occasion, including delegates from different countries, pro-bono associates from international law firms, and members of Babseacle. The Committee-members were able to discuss the avenues for future collaboration with them.
4. Presentation on the Right to Education at GNLU
The Committee was invited by the Gandhinagar National Law University to the Right to Education Conclave, jointly organised by the Centre for Women & Child Rights, GNLU in collaboration with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Government of India and Indus Action. One of the aims of the event was to promote bringing academia and advocacy together. The Conclave sought to provide a platform to young lawyers and law students who have advocated for effectively implementing the RTE Act across India.
The Committee conducted a Presentation on the Committee’s work in facilitating the implementation of the Right to Education Act of 2009. Three members from the Committee successfully conducted the presentation and highlighted the inconsistencies in the implementation of the Act. The presentation was highly lauded by the participants and the dignitaries present there. Presentation on the Right to Education. The Committee members also engaged in meetings with the guests and panellists of the event to discuss the future course of action that can be taken by lawyers and law students for effective implementation of the RTE Act across the country.
Awards
1. Annual Legal Services Forum
The Committee participated in the Annual Legal Services Forum, organised by Gandhinagar National Law University’s Legal Services Committee from 13th to 14th April 2023. The event aimed to bridge the gap between academics and grassroots-level fieldwork undertaken by legal aid centres and provide a unique platform to engage in discourse for systemic issues posed to legal aid initiatives. It facilitated deliberation, collaboration and contribution by Legal Aid Clinics to provide free and competent legal services to the underprivileged. The broad theme of the 4th Annual Legal Services Forum was “Revolutionizing Legal Aid.”
The Committee was represented by Ms. Tasneem Fatema and Mr Nigam Vrat Attri from the Batch of 2026 and Dr Anjali Thanvi, Chairperson of the Committee. The members conducted a presentation explaining the multifarious activities conducted by the Committee. Based on this, the Committee was declared as the Winner of the GNLU Legal Services Funding Grant to honour and support the socio-legal initiatives of the Committee. The grant includes a reward of Rs. 25,000/-, a trophy and a certificate of merit. LAAC envisages utilising this grant to reach newer heights in the field of legal services.
2. First Runners Up Legal Aid Clinic, Prof. V. S. Mallar Memorial Legal Aid Competition 2022
The Committee achieved the position of first runners-up in the Professor V. S. Mallar Memorial Legal Aid Competition 2022, hosted by the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Centre for Environmental Law, Education, Research, and Advocacy (CEERA), under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. The competition garnered participation from approximately 60 legal aid clinics across India. Over the period from July to October 2022, the Committee diligently organised a series of events, including Nukkad Nataks, Jan Sunwai, Speed Mentoring, Village Adalat, and Village Halts, as part of its active engagement and contribution to the competition. This multifaceted approach showcased the Committee’s commitment to advancing legal awareness and aid, contributing significantly to its commendable performance in the aforementioned legal aid competition.
3. Bhamashah Award
The Committee’s commitment to women empowerment has been exemplary, evident through initiatives such as the Mahila Sashaktikaran Mela and Women Entrepreneurship programs. Through the implementation of legal aid camps, Surpura achieved the noteworthy status of a litigationfree village. In recognition of the impactful work in Surpura, the Committee received the prestigious Bhamashah Award in 2017. This accolade underscores the Committee’s significant contributions to community development and societal improvement.
4.Awards Received by Surpura
The collective endeavours of the Committee and the Sarpanch of Surpura, aimed at the village’s improvement, have consistently garnered recognition across various platforms. Notably, Surpura has achieved top honours in five out of the nine Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) themes as part of the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar, an initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Furthermore, the village has been bestowed with an accolade for being an Atma Nirbhar Panchayat at the state level. These acknowledgements underscore the commendable efforts and success of the Committee and the Sarpanch in advancing the welfare and development of Surpura.
5. Utthaan Award
The Committee received the Utthaan Award for the year 2015, an esteemed accolade presented by the Utthaan Legal Aid and Awareness Society. These awards are conferred upon exemplary individuals or institutions that demonstrate exceptional commitment to advancing legal awareness for the societal upliftment within Jodhpur. In the specified year, the Committee was honoured as one of the nine recipients of this prestigious recognition.
6. 1st Runners Up Legal Aid Clinic, 1st UILS National Legal Aid Forum, 2019
The Committee participated in the National Legal Aid Forum 2019, organised by the University Institute of Legal Studies at Panjab University, Chandigarh, on the 5th of April 2019. This event drew the participation of 15 legal aid societies nationwide. The forum centred around a conference featuring panel discussions on the theme, “Role and Functioning of Legal Aid Clinics,” coupled with a competition to assess the efforts of the participating teams. Each team presented their initiatives during the conference, highlighted practical challenges, and discussed prospects. The event included a preliminary round, from which six teams emerged as finalists. The Committee earned the distinction of being the first runners-up in the competition. The evaluation criteria encompassed factors such as innovation, social impact, sustainability, and outreach, with the selection based on the reports submitted alongside the team presentations. The Committee received valuable feedback from the judges, reflecting their wealth of experience and knowledge, which contributed to the overall constructive engagement of the event.