Create database of lawyers offering free legal aid, like during MeToo movement: Justice DY Chandrachud

Supreme Court Judge, Justice DY Chandrachud on Saturday called for the creation of a database of lawyers who are willing to offer pro bono or free legal aid services in specific areas of law, akin to how a database was compiled around 2018 to assist victims of sexual harassment during the MeToo movement. .He was speaking at the launch of a legal awareness programme launched by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). "The creation of a case-type-specific database is the need of the hour. The provision of legal aid services can be enhanced if lawyers dedicated to a particular cause are responsible for only those cases," Justice Chandrachud said..He added that an instance of such a database being compiled was seen in 2018 with the rise of the MeToo movement, when young women lawyers started offering their services free of cost to assist women who had been sexually harassed. ."This even led to the creation of databases of lawyers who could be approached for specific issues. In my opinion, such an exercise should be conducted at an institutionalised level," Justice Chandrachud said. .He added that the legal services authorities must also approach young lawyers having expertise in specific areas of law. This may also help in marginalised sections of society who face harassment, being less hesitant to approach for legal aid. ."A similar exercise could perhaps be conducted for members of the transgender or sexual minority communities. Many of the members in these communities are closeted and do not seek legal aid for fear of disclosure of their identities. A number of them also face significant threats to life by society and even their family members. In such cases, it would be beneficial for them to reach out to lawyers who specifically deal with similar cases," Justice Chandrachud explained. .Expressing agreement with the suggestion made by Justice Chandrachud, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul added that it is important for a person providing legal aid to have empathy to the person requiring the same. .The event also saw addresses by Attorney General KK Venugopal, Chairman of the Bar Council of India, Manan Kumar Mishra and President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Vikas Singh..[Read a live account of the event]