Nyaya Ratha service available at Dasara Exhibition grounds till October 25

To provide free legal assistance and create awareness among the public, Nyaya Ratha, a legal service centre on wheels, has started operating at the Dasara Exhibition Ground in Mysuru.

Initiated by Ramaiah Law College, Bengaluru, in association with the Karnataka State Legal Service Authority, it was launched on October 20 and will remain open to the public till Sunday (October 25). The public can avail the service between 4 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Members of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities, women and children, industrial workers, persons with mental or physical disabilities, victims of mob violence and natural disasters, industrial accidents, and victims of caste and communal assault are eligible for free legal aid. People earning an annual income less than ₹3 lakh, irrespective of their caste and category, and others covered under Section 12 of the Legal Service Authority Act, 1987, are also eligible.

Others can approach Nyaya Ratha to avail information about the legal services.

The mobile legal service centre comprises a panel of advocates, paralegal volunteers and a staff member from the Mysuru District Legal Service Authority (DLSA) who will register grievances.

Based on the nature of each case, the grievances registered will be referred to a panel advocates for legal assistance. A total of 78 advocates are empanelled by the District Legal Service Authority and will provide assistance till the disposal of the case, including appeal before a higher court.

Cases falling outside the jurisdiction of the DLSA will be referred to the respective district legal service authorities.

As of Thursday (October 22), Nyaya Ratha received three grievances related to civil disputes. The cases were referred to the respective legal authorities.

People who cannot afford private lawyers, as well as those seeking a change of lawyer, can approach the centre for assistance. Services including bail application, civil disputes involving property and land, domestic violence, matrimonial disputes, assault cases and other issues are covered under the free legal assistance.

Those who cannot afford to deposit the required surety amount while getting the bail and are requesting the government to deposit the amount to court are also covered under free legal assistance, DLSA stated.

Justice S.G. Pandit of High Court of Karnataka, B. Jayantha Kumar, Principal, District and Sessions Judge, Mysuru and  Nagaraj Siddappa Ankasadoddi, Senior Civil Judge & Member Secretary were present during the launch of Legal Service Centre on Wheel on Tuesday.