JagLAG (Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group)

The Indian Legal Aid And Awareness Network (ILAAN), a group of more than 20 law school legal aid clinics set up by NLSIU Bangalore in collaboration with NLU Delhi, has released a statement “condemning the repression of Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group”, which fights for the rights of tribals in the area and has continued to face harassment by the authorities as first reported in October of last year.

A Chhatisgarh district bar association has debarred lawyers enrolled “outside” from practicing in Jagdalpur courts, reported Bhaskar.

The Bastar district bar Association in Chhatisgarh’s Jagdalpur town allegedly passed a resolution to debar the lawyers, in its general body meeting, but a copy of this resolution was not provided to tribal rights NGO JagLAG (Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group) when it asked for it through written requests, added the report.

JagLAG represents Jagdalpur region tribals in defending false criminal charges. The lawyers of the NGO, who are registered with the Bar Council of Delhi and practice in multiple jurisdictions, have alleged harassment at the hands of the local police and the Bastar bar.

The NGO was founded in 2013 by Delhi University law alumni Isha Khandelwal and Shalini Gera and TISC Mumbai post graduates Parijata Bharadwaj and Rupesh Kumar. It is supported by senior lawyers sponsoring monthly fellowships and offering free counsel to its clients, reported Mint.

The founders fear that although they are currently fighting harassment and repeatedly producing their enrolment documents before the local police and the bar, they wouldn’t be able to afford the costs involved in fighting other bar associations if they decide to follow the Bastar bar’s stance, added Mint.