A
serious attempt is being made to help the layman get familiar with the judicial system. The Goa Foundation
is organising a two-month course that will help them understand how the system
works and also with the administrative system. This will help the average Joe
understand how the system works and help avoid the feeling of frustration that
overcomes people who have to deal with the judiciary.
Karan Bhagat, a volunteer with Goa
Foundation, said that around twenty years ago, a course had been conducted in
Panjim and Margao, informing about how the courts were set up and how it
functioned. More importantly, information on how the various departments of the
government worked was explained in detail. It was attended by about hundred
people and the exercise was well received.
The legal cell provides free assistance and is run by
volunteers, with a few lawyers on board. Since they were thinly stretched, they
course was not repeated. Following that, various people who visited the cell
impressed on them to have an introductory course about how the judiciary is set
up, how to file petition, how to hire a lawyer, what are the key laws and a few
key judgments.
This prompted them to commence the current course, which will be
held at the Jesuit house in Panjim and will be conducted in the evening over
two months. Eighteen lectures will not be conducted every day but the attendees
will be given a day or two to digest the information they will be given in each
lecture. A maximum of eighty students will be accommodated and the course will
cost Rs 2000. Those unable to afford it but keen on attending the course will
be assisted by way of a scholarship of Rs 500. This is basically meant to cover
cost.
The speakers are an eminent group and they include Adv Carlos
Alvares Fereira, Former Advocate General of Goa, who will speak about the
constitution, acts of Parliament and rules. Adv Cleofato Coutinho, former
Judge, Civil Court, will speak about structure of judiciary and jurisdiction of
courts. There will be seventeen legal luminaries, who will provide their wisdom
and knowledge in these lectures. Claude Alvares, one of the legal luminaries
who will be lecturing, said, “Goa Foundation is preparing the briefing notes
for the lawyers, ensuring it is a top-class course. We went for the best
speakers. The speakers include people who have fought cases against us in the
High Court; we felt they were very good with how they went about the case and
hence we’ve invited them to speak at the course. Some were surprised but they
all agreed to give their time. About Lok Ayukta, Abhijit Gosavia spoke against
us but we felt he was very good and he will be there.”
He
ended by saying that he hoped that the people joining the course would benefit
from it and help in creating the next generation of social activists that will
help fight injustices in the community.
