Techno India University (TIU), West Bengal, organised a Legal Aid and Awareness Programme on September 25, 2026, in collaboration with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), North 24 Parganas. Organised by the TIU Legal Service Society, the programme focused on the theme “Bridging the gap between Legal Aid and Access to Justice” and brought together legal professionals, faculty members, students, alumni and other stakeholders.
The programme began with the felicitation of the dignitaries, followed by the Vande Mataram national song. The event featured Prof. (Dr.) Saikat Maitra, Vice Chancellor, Techno India University, Prof. Dr. Sujoy Biswas, Registrar and Director & CEO, Techno India Group, Prof. Debashree Chakraborty, Head of the Department of Legal Sciences, Techno India University, Advocate Soumyajit Raha and Advocate Barun Kumar Das, High Court of Calcutta.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Dr. Saikat Maitra highlighted the growing importance of legal aid and the potential of technology in addressing challenges within the legal system. He said,“The entire world now has been disrupted with this phenomenal growth of AI. Every day, we are seeing that AI is doing something which we did not dream even five years before.”…“These sorts of support systems, particularly legal aid and all the support systems, are extremely important because society is becoming more and more complicated and complex.”…“Technology can be one of these tools, our support systems, in disposing many of these pending cases.”
Prof. Dr. Sujoy Biswas emphasised the importance of making justice accessible to everyone. He stated,“Justice has no meaning if it cannot reach the person who needs it the most.”…“Knowledge is power, but legal knowledge is empowerment.”…“Justice should never depend upon the size of one’s bank balance, justice should never depend upon one’s social position, and justice should never depend upon how powerful one’s connections or networks are.”…“Know your rights, know your responsibilities, raise your voice against injustice and, most importantly, become the voice of someone who cannot raise their own.”…“When awareness rises, fear falls. When courage rises, injustice falls. And when we stand together, justice wins.”
Speaking on the importance of the programme, Dr. Debashree Chakraborty said,“Legal aid is not merely about providing a lawyer or assisting someone in a legal dispute. Legal aid begins with legal awareness.”…“Legal education should not remain confined to classrooms, textbooks and examinations. Law must reach society and society must be able to reach the law.”…“Ultimately, access to justice begins when a person knows that justice is available and knows where and how to seek it.”
The programme then moved towards the practical aspects of legal aid and awareness. Advocate Soumyajit Raha spoke about taking legal knowledge to communities and helping people understand the support available to them. He said, “It is not only knowing the law or learning the law; we need to preach the laws and take them to the remotest part of society.”…“We should not be judgmental about the problems they are coming with. We should be compassionate enough with the problems they are coming with.”…“This is not a single day; this should be a routine. If not once a week, once a month we should sit and understand where we are at fault or where the flaws are.”…“Always find the earliest recourse to resolve a dispute. That is the object.”
Advocate Barun Kumar Das, spoke about the constitutional foundation of legal aid and the responsibility of the legal profession towards society. He stated,“The concept of legal aid is in the form of Article 39 of the Indian Constitution. It has been given for the needy and poor people who are not able to get justice from the court of law.”…“It is not charity or bounty that is given; it is a constitutional right.”…“It is not charity or bounty that is given; it is a constitutional right.”…“We need to listen to the client’s pain. We need to know why he came to us and we need to note that down.”
Following the addresses by the dignitaries, the students presented an act based on a fictional legal case, giving the audience a practical demonstration of legal proceedings and the application of legal concepts. The performance added an interactive dimension to the programme and connected the discussions on legal awareness with a practical representation of a legal situation.
The programme concluded with the closing ceremony, bringing together the day’s discussions on legal awareness, access to justice, professional responsibility and the role of students in promoting legal literacy. The initiative highlighted the importance of strengthening the connection between legal institutions, academic institutions and the wider community, while encouraging students to contribute towards making legal assistance more accessible.
The programme served as a platform for meaningful discussions on legal awareness, access to justice and the responsibilities of the legal community. The interaction between legal professionals, faculty members and students also highlighted the need for continued efforts to spread legal knowledge beyond academic spaces. Through such initiatives, TIU Legal Service Society aims to encourage greater awareness of legal rights and responsibilities and strengthen the connection between legal education and society.