Access to Justice Conclave

The Legal Services Clinic, Ramaiah College of Law in association with the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, Bengaluru celebrated Silver Jubilee and organised the Access to Justice Conclave on July 29, 2023

Among the dignitaries His Excellency Justice S. Nazir Ahmed, Governor of Andhra Pradesh inaugurated the programme. Hon’ble Justice A. S. Bopanna, Judge, Supreme Court of India, Hon’bl Justice B. V. Nagarathna, Hon’ble Shri Justice Aravind Kumar, Judges, Supreme Court of India, and Hon’ble Shri. Justice Prasanna B. Varale, Chief Justice, High Court of Karnataka & Patron-In-Chief, KSLSA, and Hon’ble Shri. Justice G. Narendra, Judge, High Court of Karnataka & Executive Chairman, KSLSA, Dr. M. R. Jayaram, Hon’ble Chairman, GEF, Shri Seetharam, Hon’ble Vice-Chairman, Shri. M. R. Ramaiah., Hon’ble Secretary, GEF, Shri. M. R. Pattabiram, Trustee, GEF, Shri M.R. Anandarama, Director, RCL, Shri. B. S. Ramaprasad, Chief Executive GEF, Shri. B. S. Ramprasad, CE, GEF, Shri G. Ramchandra, CF, GEF, and Prof. Umamahesh Sathanarayan, Principal, RCL graced the occasion.

The goal of Kanoonu Santhe was to offer Law Colleges' Legal Service Clinics in Karnataka a platform to showcase their effective methods in granting access to justice. This initiative aimed to motivate and inspire law students and other participating teams. The inauguration of Kanoonu Santhe was carried out by the esteemed Hon’ble Justice B. V. Nagarathna, who engaged with all the colleges that had set up stalls. Across Karnataka, 20 colleges have expressed interest in setting up stalls in the Kanoonu Santhe.
The College also organised a panel discussion comprising representatives from all the stakeholders involved in providing legal aid viz., NGO, Legal Services Institutions, Academicians, Advocates, Judges, Police Department, District Administration, and Law students.
The Samvaada focused on the "Role of Legal Services Clinic in facilitating Access to Justice." It explored the contribution of Para-Legal Volunteers in providing access to justice through Legal Services Clinics in governmental and educational institutions. The discussion aimed to strengthen these clinics by addressing challenges faced by stakeholders. Chaired by Justice E. S. Indresh of the High Court of Karnataka, the panel included Justice Gururajan, Former Judge, Mr. H. K Jagadeesh, Special Law Secretary, Mr. Raghavendra Shettigar, Deputy Secretary at KSLSA, Mr. D. Devaraj, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shri. Udayakumara Shetty of RUAS, Shri. Vignesh Avarekad, Panel Advocate at KSLSA, Ms. Poorna Ravishankar, Advocate and Core Member of Alternative Law Forum, Dr. Benarji Chakka, Professor of Law and Dean at VIT-AP School of Law, Sri. Vikar Ahmed, Advocate and Alumni RCL, and Ms. Ruthu and Ms. Darshana, Volunteers at the Legal Services Clinic, RCL.