Public Interest Litigation [PIL] and Right to Information [RTI]
Over the year, the clinic’s work has included in-depth legal research and comprehensive groundwork contributing to the filing of Public Interest Litigations (PILs) and RTIs
Juvenile Justice Act Section 15
Comprehensive groundwork for filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging Section 15 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. This provision permits preliminary assessment of juveniles aged 16-18 in conflict with the law for potential adult trial, raising significant constitutional and rehabilitative concerns
Juvenile Justice Act Implementation
A Public Interest Litigation was filed in light of poor implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act, the system was further affected because of high case pendency along with police torture and complaints of abuse within the observation homes. An empirical report was submitted by the committee for the status of implementation of the JJ act in Karnataka. The Legal Services Clinic surveyed observation homes in Karnataka and obtained information through RTI on working of the institutions such as Observation Homes, Juvenile Justice Boards, and Special Homes.
Karnataka
Sex Worker's
Union
A specific PIL in the Karnataka High Court on behalf of sex workers required us to provide constant assistance to Mr. B.T. Venkatesh, advocate representing a Union of Sex Workers. Provided a number of useful research pieces to assist the advocate in his case. The cause was a fight for the rights of sex workers, not only to engage in sex work but also to avail medical benefits and other associated social security schemes
Dalit Human
Rights
Drafted a PIL in collaboration with National Council for Dalit Human Rights
PoSH Compliance
RTI
The Legal Services Clinic filed an RTI, which sought to check if the Act and Rules thereunder have been complied with. The Act directs every district to have a ‘Local Complaints Committee’, for the benefit of workers who do not have an office/workplace level committee to report complaints of sexual harassment, for example, domestic workers. The RTI sought information about the formation and functioning of University level Committees where instances of sexual harassment could be reported. Following a session held by PUCL, Rajasthan highlighting how to draft an RTI, LSC members finalised a set of relevant questions, and structured the document for sharpness and efficacy.​
DK Basu
Compliance
RTI
LSC sought to check for compliance with these guidelines and drafted a set of questions for the RTI Form, and sent the form to Police Stations throughout districts in Karnataka. Within a week of us submitting the second set of RTIs, a new judgement adding on to the DK Basu judgement was released. Accordingly, we were forced to disband this initiative until a more opportune time in the future.
Consumer
Rights
Petition
The Karnataka High Court had accepted the petition filed by members of the Legal Services Clinic which raised issues on the implementation of the Consumer Protection Act and its allied institutions