Legal Aid Services

For legal opinion, conciliation and negotiation services for persons with disabilities

National Coordinating Center: New Delhi
Regional Office: South India
Public Relations Officer: Kodakkal Shivaprasad, Shimoga

National Coordinating Center: New Delhi

Rajshekhar Rao, Supreme Court Lawyer and a graduate of the National Law School, Bangalore, has extensive experience and knowledge of the practice of law. He has a deep commitment towards developing a platform that enables all people with disability in India live in a fair and just environment.

Frequently asked questions…..

Why do I need legal counsel?

Conventionally, the only effective dispute settlement agency has been the judiciary and holds the same importance till date. Although judiciary’s intervention is (absolutely necessary) in certain cases, it is also possible to settle certain disputes with the timely intervention by any other independent party. It is a well known fact that although eventually Courts do help in dispute settlement, it is a time consuming and an expensive process. Recognizing the above problems, we offer you some alternative means of dispute resolution i.e., conciliation, negotiation etc, as the first step towards an amicable settlement.
In my experience, ADR methods have proved to be a very successful means of dispute settlement. We at the Disability India Network believe that if intervened at a right time a large number of disputes can be amicably settled and prevented from languishing in the Courts.

How does the process work?

When a dispute arises, the first step in seeking a solution is to be able to understand the problem, its gravity and implications for the future.
The second step is to mentally consolidate one’s own position, write down the details of the entire case from the earliest point of its emergence and then contacting a legal expert for advice to explore the existing options to resolve the problem.
At OLAC, we review the details of the case and then suggest the best possible interventions that could be undertaken within the shortest period of time.

What kinds of cases are dealt with at OLAC?

You may send us queries relating to any area of these areas:

  • Employment – reservation, promotion, transfer, dismissal, pension, wages, salary
  • Education – reservation in admission, integration, special schools
  • Family Law – Marriage and related issues, custody, guardianship etc
  • Property matters – partition, encroachment
  • Money matters – debt recovery, cheating
  • Consumer Laws
  • Labour matters
  • Motor vehicle accident matters

Or any other query where intervention from OLAC is requested.

What will I have to do to avail of this service?

To avail the above services, you need to fill in the “Request for Counsel” form given below. Please sure that you fill in all the fields or we will not be able to respond to your queries.

Once your request has been registered, you will be asked to provide a scanned copy of your Disability Certificate as well as an authorization letter for the Legal Cell to intervene on your behalf. The text of the letter will be mailed to you.

Tips for effective reporting of the details of your case

  • Present information in chronological order.
  • Try and give only relevant information – if your descriptions are too long then the focus is lost from the main issue and important details may not be recorded.
  • Focus on the problem – its gravity, how it has impacted your life, when it started, any personal request made, any third party intervention that may have taken place.
  • Draft the problem in a word file before you cut and paste it onto the form. Do not be in a hurry, be satisfied with what you have written – this will help us respond to you fast.
  • Confidentiality – All information that you share with LAP will be kept confidential. It will not be available for public viewing or shared in the public. Your names will not be disclosed to anybody.
However, should you permit us, we could make a summary of the case (removing all traces of identity) along with the solutions offered by LAP for the benefit of our readers.

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Click here to Request for Counsel

Regional Office: South India

The South India Chapter is located in Bangalore.

Anuroopa Giliyal, Advocate has been practicing disability law at the Alternate Law Forum, Bangalore and later as the head of the Online Legal Aid Cell in Delhi.  Ms Giliyal heads the South India Chapter of the Legal Aid Cell.

Public Relations Officer: Kodakkal Shivaprasad, Shimoga

Kodakkal Shivaprasad works in the Canara Bank, Shimoga District, Karnataka. As a person with hearing impairment, and having experienced many challenges, he now dedicates all his free time for the rights of persons with disabilities. He has been a consultant with the Legal Aid Cell since its inception.

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