Legal aid committee

Legal Aid Centre

Legal Aid Centre – Dr. G. K. Dongargaonkar Law College

Established in 2025, Dr. G. K. Dongargaonkar Law College has rapidly evolved into a legal institution committed to academic excellence and social justice. Embracing the ideals of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the college recognizes that legal education must go beyond theory—it must serve society. In line with this vision, the college established its Legal Aid Centre with the goal of delivering accessible legal services to marginalized and underserved communities, while also fostering innovation in legal education.

The Legal Aid Centre has quickly earned a reputation for its dedicated community outreach, particularly in supporting economically and socially weaker sections of society. By engaging students in real-world legal processes and social interventions, the Centre ensures that legal education remains deeply practical, participatory, and socially relevant.

  • Successfully organized several Legal Aid Camps in rural and semi-urban communities, affirming the college’s dedication to community welfare.
  • Our students proudly serve as Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs) under the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Raigad, gaining valuable hands-on experience in delivering legal assistance to those in need.
  • The Legal Aid Centre provides free legal consultation to eligible beneficiaries under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
  • Areas of service include legal advice, grievance redressal, and basic support in filing complaints or applications.

Recognizing the deep gaps in legal awareness, especially in rural and marginalized communities, the Centre conducts legal literacy and awareness campaigns in collaboration with Gram Panchayats, NGOs, and local organizations. These programs reach:

  • Women, children, and senior citizens
  • Farmers, slum residents, and tribal populations
  • School students, social workers, and village representatives

The Centre also works closely with the college’s Women Development Cell, setting up legal support centers and complaint boxes at various Gram Panchayats to improve accessibility for women and vulnerable groups.

Operating five days a month, the Legal Aid Clinic provides free legal advice and guidance to individuals who cannot afford legal fees. The service focuses on:

  • Listening to grievances
  • Providing preliminary legal consultation
  • Guiding citizens toward legal remedies or relevant authorities

The clinic does not provide financial aid, but assists in resolving issues through legal channels.

The Centre also promotes alternative dispute resolution (ADR) by attempting negotiation and conciliation between parties. If informal resolution fails, the Centre guides clients on the path to formal legal recourse, especially for those who cannot afford private counsel.

Our students regularly participate in Lok Adalats at Alibaug, Panvel, and Belapur Courts. These visits offer:

  • Firsthand exposure to ADR mechanisms
  • Real-time learning about settlement processes
  • Insight into functioning outside the conventional courtroom

To expand students’ perspectives, the Legal Aid Centre organizes visits to correctional institutions such as Taloja Jail and Alibaug Jail. These experiences expose students to:

  • Legal challenges faced by inmates
  • Real-world implications of criminal justice
  • Ethical, procedural, and rehabilitation issues within prisons

Such activities instill a strong sense of empathy and civic responsibility in our future legal professionals.

The Centre has fostered strong associations with Gram Panchayats and other grassroots organizations by establishing local legal aid support units. This model ensures that justice reaches the doorstep of rural and semi-urban populations, reaffirming our commitment to inclusive and community-centered legal service.

The Centre actively promotes legal awareness through publications and campaigns:

  • Legal literacy materials and posters in Marathi and English
  • Student-led poster and essay competitions on issues like:
    • Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace
    • Dowry Prohibition
    • Right to Education & the New Education Policy
    • Domestic Violence
    • Caste-based Discrimination

These efforts foster a vibrant, participatory culture of social consciousness and legal understanding among students.

The Legal Aid Centre at Dr. G. K. Dongargaonkar Law College continues to evolve as a dynamic platform for legal empowerment, combining classroom learning with grassroots legal service. We remain steadfast in our mission to produce legally proficient, socially aware, and ethically grounded legal professionals, deeply committed to the ideals of justice and equality envisioned by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.