PUNE: Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University New Law College (BVDU), Pune, organised an event on Saturday to share information about the working of ‘Legal Aid and Family Counselling Centre’. The centre will undertake continuous legal education programme, legal literacy camps, research projects, women empowerment, juvenile justice, protection of rights of senior citizens, participation in Lok Adalat, social lawyering by PIL, social work through NGOs, environment protection programmes, free services in education related matters and social justice to the economically weaker section of society.

“The Legal Aid Clinic is supported and guided by 20 eminent practising lawyers, 4-5 marriage counsellors and family court judges. During last two years, 415 matrimonial cases were addressed, wherein efforts were made to resolve the matters amicably through counselling and pre-litigation advice,” said Professor Dr Mukund Sarda, Dean and Principal of BVDU, New Law College.

He further added, “During the course of counselling and resolution, young budding lawyers are encouraged to observe and actively participate in outside the courtroom settlements.”

Smita Joshi, head of Family Counsellors, said, “We have solved 827 cases till now and most of them were matrimonial disputes. Social Justice is an important part of this Legal Aid Centre and moreover, family courts should have a healthy atmosphere in order to solve the matrimonial disputes. Trust in family courts is key in resolving the matrimonial disputes in quick time.”