Centre for Studies in Access to Justice

Introduction

Equality is the foundation of all modern system of law and administration of justice. Preamble to the Constitution of India aspires to secure to all its citizens JUSTICE, social, economic and political; and EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all.

To achieve the above goal enshrined in the Constitution of India, the Centre for Studies in Access to Justice in Tamil Nadu National Law University is established by the noble vision of our Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, . The subject of access to justice is a sine-qua-non in the contemporary era. The objectives of the Centre are primarily inter alia to assist the people in locality to get the access to justice at their door steps, to be a bridge between the people in locality and the judiciary in Tiruchirappalli, to carry out research in the related area and to recommend the government to improve the ways and means to provide effective access to justice to the people in and around the Tiruchirappalli District. To achieve the above target, the Centre is currently taking the preliminary steps to study “The Effective Functioning of Legal Aid System as a Means of Access to Justice in Tiruchirappalli District”.

History of the Centre for Studies in Access to Justice in TNNLU

The Centre for Studies in Access to Justice is the brain child of  Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Tamil Nadu National Law University. For the formation of various centers at TNNLU, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor has sent a proposal for the possible new research centre to be established at TNNLU and elicited the interest of the faculty members vide her mail dated: 27 January, 2021 bearing the subject “Possible new Research Centre – eliciting interest of faculty member”. Concerned faculty expressed their interest for the establishment of various centers at TNNLU. One among the centre is “The Centre for Studies in Access to Justice”.

Thereafter concept note and plan of action for the research centers are invited by Hon’ble Vice Chancellor to place before the Executive Council (EC) for its approval

  • The Tentative plan of action in the form of Tentative research proposal titled “A STUDY ON THE EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF LEGAL AID SYSTEM AS A MEANS OF ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN TIRUCHIRAPPALLI DISTRICT” was submitted, by A. Nirmal Singh Heera, Assistant Professor (Law), Tamil Nadu National Law University, Tiruchirappalli, to the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor for further approval.
  • The proposal with minor modification was sent by V.C to EC for further approval.
  • Thereafter, as per the proceeding of the Registrar, TNNLU, Vide Pr. No: 1345/REGR/TNNLU/2021, Dated: 07.05.2021, the fund (i.e, Rs. 1,00,000/-) for the research project titled above was sanctioned. In the above Pr. No: 1345, it was informed that Mr. Aravind P. Datar, Senior Advocate and Member of Executive Council of TNNLU has donated an amount of Rs. 5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lakh Only) for research project in TNNLU. Out of the 5 lakh, 1 lakh (Rupees One Lakh Only) is earmarked for the project to be undertaken by the Centre for Studies in Access to Justice.

Now the Centre for Studies in Access to Justice is initiating its groundwork for undertaking the research work in full swing.

Center Coordinator:

Mr. A. Nirmal Singh Heera, Asst. Prof (Law) FIC