'Connecting to Serve… Legal Services, My Journey…A Memoir’ is a book that is filled with information about the Legal Services. It has been written by a person who has been in the profession for over 30 years. Sayonara Telles-Laad has painstakingly explained the law in simple yet very important chapters and one thread running through the book is her life story.
Sayonara earned a degree in Law from Kare
College of Law, Margao in 1987 and was awarded the academic excellence prize.
She started her practice as an advocate from December 3, 1987 and joined the
Department of Prosecution as Assistant Public Prosecutor in 1992. She joined
the Goa Judiciary in 1996. She later rose to the rank of District and Sessions
Judge. Sayonara took charge as the first full time Member Secretary of the Goa
State Legal Services Authority in 2019 till her appointment as President of the
Children’s Court for the State of Goa on March 14, 2022.
Sayonara, was appointed as Chairperson in the Complaints
Committee for the District and Subordinate Courts, North Goa. She also held the
post of Chairperson of Bicholim, Quepem and Ponda Taluka Legal Services
Committee and as Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, North Goa.
She designed and conceptualized the Legal Awareness Fete for North Goa District
Legal Services Authority in 2014, which was the first of its kind in in the
country. She was also appointed as mediator for South Goa.
Sayonara has also written two books, ‘My Collections,’ a
collection of her articles in 1989 and ‘Cheers! Laugh Out Loud’ in 2020. “Article
39A of the Constitution of India provides that State shall promote justice on a
basis of equal opportunity, and shall in particular, provide free legal aid, by
suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that
opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of
economic or other disability. Articles 14 and 22(1) also make it obligatory for
the State to ensure equality before law and a legal system which promotes
justice on a basis of equal opportunity to all including those detained and
imprisoned,” says Sayonara.
She further adds, “The Legal Services aims to empower the
marginalized and excluded groups of the society by providing effective legal
representation, legal literacy and awareness and bridging the gap between the
legally available benefits and the entitled beneficiaries. The principal
objective of legal services is to provide free and competent legal services to
the weaker sections of the society and to ensure that opportunities for
securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other
disabilities, and to organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.
The Legal services connect to serve, enabling access to justice for all. During
my judicial service, being the senior most judge at the station, I had the
opportunity to be the Chairperson of the Taluka Legal Services Committee at the
stations where I was posted in different Talukas in the State of Goa ie.
Quepem, Ponda, Bicholim and Mapusa.”
On the suggestion of a friend, she decided to chronicle her days
in the Legal Services Institutions and she believes that sensitization and
awareness is a must for all if you want to see a change around you and live in
a better world. “The beneficiaries must take the benefit of the services and
schemes of the Legal Services Institutions. There is a need for a change of
mindset in each of us to connect to serve the weaker, marginalized, poor
sections of the society. The beneficiaries should also come forward to take
benefit of the services and connect with the legal services. I believe that
there is no need for any platform to reach out and touch the lives of others
and each of us can always do it on your own too,” she says.
Her journey with the Legal Services began when she was the Civil
Judge Senior Division and Judicial Magistrate First Class at Quepem and the
Chairperson of the Taluka Legal Services Committee. She was appointed as the
secretary of the North Goa District Services Authority in 2014 and had a
memorable short stint there, just for three months. In those months at the
North Goa District Services Authority, she conceptualized and designed the
Legal Services Fete, an awareness cum services-cum-entertainment programme, for
one and a half day in 2014, which was the first of its kind not just in Goa but
India too. The Mega Legal Services Camps took birth in the year 2016 formulated
under a Module.
Speaking about Alternate Disputes Redressal Forums, Sayonara
says, “The means to Alternate Disputes Redressal has always been close to my
heart, since disputes can be settled quickly, it saves a lot of money and time
and of course relieves you of the stress that could eventually disturb your
peace of mind and cause various health issues.” During her tenure as
Chairperson of the Taluka Legal Services Committees, Secretary, North Goa
District Services Authority, as Member Secretary Goa State Legal Services
Authority as well as a judicial officer, Sayonara spread awareness about
Alternate Disputes Redressal Forums, more particularly Lok Adalat and
Mediation, schemes of the Government and the laws.
The chapters gives insights into the services and schemes of the
legal services institutions including NALSA schemes and the various activities
and the efforts put in by the various stake holders for connecting to serve the
beneficiaries. The book also includes a bouquet of photographs of events held
during her association with the Legal services and her tenure as Member
Secretary in Goa State Legal Services Authority. The book was released by Maria
Angelica D’Souza, former Para Legal Volunteer at Shram Shakti Bhavan, Panjim
and is available at Delfino’s Supermart in Porvorim and Panjim, Singbal Book
House, Panjim and ARZ at Vasco da Gama. She dedicates this book to all the
stake holders who work tirelessly for the underprivileged and weaker sections
of the society.
Sayonara has contributed several articles to leading English
dailies and magazines. She has compered as well as presented Programmes for All
India Radio, Panjim. She is felicitated with the Adharsh Mahila International
Women Achievers Award 2019 by The Legal Rights Council – India and
CPDHE-University of Delhi, in Delhi. The Postal Department, Goa Division
honoured her with ‘My Stamp’ on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2022.
The
Goa State Legal Services Authority felicitated her for her outstanding services
to the Legal Services Institution on the occasion of International Women’s Day
2022. She is also a resource person for Goa Institute of Public Administration
and Rural Development and other institutions. She has been instrumental in
disposing large number of cases in Alternate Disputes Forums, promoting
settlement of cases. Her forte is generating awareness, peace and happiness.