The help line currently functions from Monday to Friday. The lead newspapers are giving the details of the counseling programme in the engagement column. The paper also carries the telephone numbers requesting the callers to get in touch with the advocate between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. on the weekdays. After listening to the grievances of the people the lawyer advises them of the measures to be taken to get legal remedy. In some cases the need arises for closer study of the case and the documents and in those cases the people with the problems is called into the office and the lawyer along with other counselors in the team hold discussions and studies the case in detail.
We received on an average of 10 – 15 calls per day and have been able to make positive interventions on several cases. Though the mentioned time in the newspaper is 3:30 to 5:30 pm we receive calls from 9:30 in the morning and goes till 6:30 pm, hence the advocate is not available to handle the help line calls during these hours. In order to carry out the process the programme staffs (Ms.Margaret) are trained to handle the issues that are received through the help line. This also gives the victims of human rights violation a sense of satisfaction that their voices are heard. The calls are documented for future references.
| Nature of Complaint |
Remedies/Actions
suggested/Taken |
| Illegal detention of the relatives of a P&T employee for recovery of money by the SPM |
Reported to NHRC for appropriate action |
| Non-payment of wages and harassment at work place of a woman employee. |
Advised to inform the employer through a letter that a police complaint would be filed. The employer paid the wages and apologized for the misbehavior |
| The advocate not filing for interim relief to the party in a Motor Accident and Claims case. |
Asked the party to make the advocate to file an application. Application filed and money received. |
| Dowry death- verification of charge sheet prepared by the police |
Examined the documents and found them in order. |
| Judicial separation of marriage |
Gave the details regarding judicial separation without obtaining divorce. |
| Non payment of salary |
Talked to the management and payment made. |
| Dismissal of employee converted into compulsory retirement. |
The aggrieved party did not share the details of the enquiry proceedings and hence we were not able to help. |
| Maintenance cases |
The notice sent to the husband to give maintenance to wife & children. |
| Non-payment of gratuity |
Dispute raised before the controlling authority for payment of gratuity |
| Deficiency of service of co-operative society of not allotting site to the member in spite of depositing the site value |
Dispute was raised before the consumer forum & the forum ordered the co-operative society to refund the deposited site value. |
| Matrimonial dispute - husband neglecting his wife & child |
Negotiation with elders is in progress. |
| Charged with criminal offence & in the judicial custody. Government has failed to provide legal assistance |
He is seeking assistance from us to get bail. In the process of getting the papers (FIR, Chargesheet etc) |
