Ahmedabad: Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) on Saturday launched ‘Nyay Abhigam’ (Legal Approach) initiative in association with Azim Premji Foundation to reach out to undertrial prisoners behind bars in Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad, who cannot secure bail due to reasons such as lack of funds or access to legal aid. The initiative was launched on GNLU campus in Gandhinagar by Taranjit Singh Sandhu, lieutenant governor of Delhi, and Justice Advait M Sethna, a judge of the Bombay High Court.
“At the moment, we are working on about 20-25 leads in association with the prison authorities. Out of the total, work is at an advanced stage in 10 cases,” Goswami said.
GNLU officials associated with the project said that for many undertrial prisoners, especially from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, issues such as limited legal awareness, inadequate legal representation, procedural delays, and difficulties in navigating the criminal justice system prevent them from exercising their legal rights. Sushil Goswami, a faculty member of GNLU and project coordinator, said that in the initial phase, the focus is on Sabarmati Central Jail and on undertrials for assessing cases where legal aid can help secure bail. He said a multidisciplinary team will work on the initiative, with members such as advocates with doctorate degrees, social workers, and criminologists.
“The idea of the initiative is not just facilitating legal representation but also identifying barriers to justice, improving institutional coordination, and supporting timely legal intervention. GNLU faculty members will provide guidance and supervision.
Because they lack awareness and access to resources, prof S Shanthakumar, director of GNLU, said during the inaugural function that many inmates do not even apply for bail when they are entitled to it, mainly.
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“As a university, we wanted to fill the gap, and we are thankful to the foundation for collaboration,” he said. “The team will visit prisons and confer with inmates and empanelled lawyers to understand case details and extend legal remedies. The initiative will also help reduce the burden of cases for the judiciary. Download the TOI App.