The free legal service centre planned by the Vanimel Grama Panchayat for amicably settling the villagers’ litigations and grievances without court proceedings will start functioning at the panchayat’s cultural complex on Monday.

Sub Judge R.L. Baiju will inaugurate the functioning of the centre, which will directly come under the control of the Vadakara Taluk Legal Service Committee.

Panchayat authorities say the centre will provide the service of a professional lawyer free of cost for all the complainants who wish to accept the mediation of the centre in their issues. The centre will be open on all Wednesdays to receive fresh complaints and finalise the date of hearing.

The panchayat plans to coordinate the legal operations with the support of a team of paralegal volunteers selected from rural wards. The ward members will coordinate the volunteers’ teams and offer their service to the villagers.

Field-level adalats will be one of the main features of the new legal service centre, where the settlements of complaints will be fast. Arrangements are in place to conduct at least one camp every month in the wards. Those who are not content with the decisions of the rural grievance redressing mechanism can approach the courts for further proceedings.

Panchayat president O.C. Vijayan said a mega adalat would be held at the new centre on Monday to mark its formal opening. An awareness seminar on ‘Women and their legal rights’ would also be organised on the occasion, he added.

Last month, a full-fledged Grama Nyayalayam had started functioning at Thamarassery for speedy disposal of cases related to domestic violence and property disputes. It was the first Grama Nyayalayam in the district with powers to handle civil, criminal and family cases.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kozhikode / by Staff Reporter / Kozhikode – August 15th, 2016