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NDTV
29-07-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Delhi Residents Can Now Resolve Gas, Loan, Banking Disputes Without Court
New Delhi: Delhi residents facing issues loan defaults, gas supply disruptions or service lapses by banks and NBFCs may no longer need to take the long road to court. Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena has approved a proposal designating banking, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), and gas supply as Public Utility Services, enabling their disputes to be resolved through Permanent Lok Adalats (PLAs). This decision allows complaints about banking, NBFCs, or gas services—such as billing errors or service delays—to be settled out of court via Lok Adalats. The Law Department of the Delhi government had sent the proposal, flagging a rising number of consumer disputes tied to banks, NBFCs and gas providers. "Most of these cases involve everyday issues like EMI defaults, faulty billing, or service delays," a senior official from the department said, adding that "a lot of complainants don't have the time or means to fight prolonged legal battles." Permanent Lok Adalats are quasi-judicial forums that offer a quicker and low-cost alternative to courts for resolving service-related disputes. Unlike regular courts, they can settle cases even if one party doesn't agree to a compromise, provided the matter falls under public utility services and doesn't involve criminal allegations. This inclusion is expected to ease the load on civil courts while offering consumers a more accessible legal remedy. "People shouldn't have to wait years to resolve simple issues like incorrect bank deductions or faulty gas billing,"an official associated with the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) said. At present, Delhi has three PLAs, mainly handling electricity-related disputes with private discoms. A fourth Lok Adalat is being planned to deal with other notified services like transport, telecom, water, health, sanitation and insurance. The move is seen as particularly helpful for consumers who are typically at a disadvantage when facing off against large financial or utility companies. "This could be a game-changer, especially for senior citizens, daily wage workers, or those with limited legal access," a legal aid volunteer told NDTV. For now, the DSLSA will be responsible for implementing the change and facilitating the hearing of cases under the newly included services. Residents can approach the nearest Permanent Lok Adalat for any non-criminal disputes involving these three sectors.
Time of India
26-07-2025
- Time of India
Delhi Prisons: Overcapacity And Staff Shortages Persist
New Delhi: To reduce the pressure on overcrowded jails, prisoners undergoing trials are often released on bail. Between 2019 and June this year, 5,197 undertrial prisoners were released from Delhi jails on the recommendation of the Undertrial Review Committee (UTRC) in this manner. UTRC reviews cases of prisoners to ensure they do not remain in jail for long. The system was established on the order of the Supreme Court in 2015. Each district-level committee is headed by the district and sessions judge, with the district magistrate, superintendent of police and secretary of the District Legal Services Authority as members. The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) plays a pivotal role in this regard. The identification of undertrial prisoners is carried out by legal aid clinics established by Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) in the city's 16 jails. The jail authorities send the details of undertrial prisoners eligible for bail to the DLSAs and DLSA advocates interact daily with the inmates. Each DLSA creates a list of inmates after verification and convenes the meeting of UTRC every quarter. On the basis of recommendations of UTRC, DLSAs provide free legal aid to all willing inmates to move applications for release in You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi "Through a robust mechanism for identification of eligible undertrial prisoners through UTRCs and ensuring their applications, including for bail or modification of bail conditions, before the trial courts or appellate court, DLSAs ensure legal representation to all inmates," said Rajeev Bansal, member secretary, DSLSA. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 25 Best Cities for Living Undo DSLSA regularly holds meeting to monitor accurate identification of the undertrials under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority, said Abhinav Pandey, secretary (litigation), DSLSA. He explained that the Supreme Court had listed 14 categories of prisoners who could be released while NALSA had identified two categories. However, senior advocate HS Phoolka told TOI, "Releasing prisoners who are harmless to society can be released, but not repeat offenders. Trials are long and delayed, so the number of undertrial prisoners keep increasing. But I have seen cases where persons involved in 15/16 cases are released on bail and within months they commit another offence." According to the India Justice Report 2025, undertrial prisoners now make up 76% of the jail population in the country, up from 66% in 2012. As for jails in Delhi, the correctional facilities have reported 170% occupancy since 2012. In 2022, 15% of the jails had occupancy rates of over 250%. There was an overall prison staff shortfall of 27% with the city also showing the country's highest correctional staff vacancies (60%) and prison officers' vacancies (34%). There were 90 doctors for 18,000 prisoners, averaging 206 prisoners per doctor in Delhi jails. Despite being equipped with 100% video conferencing facilities, the over-reliance on incarceration, especially of undertrial prisoners, continues to clog the system, the report pointed out. Another report tabled in the Delhi Assembly earlier this year revealed that the 16 city jails with an original capacity of 10,085 prisoners housed around 19,000 prisoners. According to the report, in March, Tihar's Jail No. 1 held 2,436 inmates against its capacity of 565. Similarly, Jail No. 4, designed for 740 inmates, was home to 3,244. Only some jails had lower than capacity occupation. Of Mandoli's six jails, three were not fully occupied, with Jail No. 15, designated for high-security prisoners, holding 108 inmates against a capacity of 248. The number of undertrial prisoners is nearly eight times that of convicted inmates, with 17,118 undertrials at the end of 2024 compared with 2,235 convicted individuals. In March, chief minister Rekha Gupta announced plans to shift Tihar Jail to the outskirts and allocated Rs 10 crore in the 2025-26 budget for survey and consultancy related to the shift. Tihar Jail is one of India's largest prison complexes, established in 1958, comprising nine prisons spread over more than 400 acres. Calling the cramming of the city jails with undertrials a problem that needs to be dealt with in a holistic manner, senior advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey said, "It is linked with various other factors, such as judicial infrastructure, working of police and the courts. Govt needs to frame policies that can lower the burden of courts."
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Time of India
State responsible for prisoner's death, states Delhi HC, awarding compensation
New Delhi: It is the duty of the State to ensure the safety and well-being of prisoners in its custody, and "gangs" are not permitted to proliferate in jails, Delhi High Court has said while awarding compensation to the kin of a man who died in a fight due to gang rivalry inside Tihar jail. Delhi HC said the State cannot shrug off responsibility by claiming that the convict was involved in a fight between gangs, adding that authorities owe a duty to ensure the security of the general public, including persons who are incarcerated, and compensate in cases of unnatural deaths in custody. "This court is of the firm opinion that it is the bounden duty of the State to ensure the safety of persons who are in its custody. While the deceased may have had criminal antecedents, the State is not absolved of its duty to ensure the safety and well-being of prisoners," Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar observed in a recent order. The court directed the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) to pay Rs 3 lakh in compensation to the kin of the deceased, Javed—Rs 1 lakh of which has already been paid earlier to his mother, who has since passed away. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The court noted that the authorities' contention that two rival gangs instigated the altercation, in which the victim was involved, "would not absolve the authorities of their bounden responsibility" to maintain prisoner safety and security. The bench further remarked that the fact that such a violent altercation occurred, with rival gangs having access to weapons or tools used to inflict fatal injuries on Javed, "speaks highly of the manner in which jail authorities discharged their duties." The compensation petition was originally filed by Javed's mother, who stated that her son had served seven years of imprisonment in a criminal case and was scheduled for release on May 5, 2013. However, she was informed of his death on May 3, 2013, reportedly due to a fight between inmate groups. The mother, who was granted an interim compensation of Rs 1 lakh, died in 2016. Thereafter, Javed's siblings and their children continued the litigation, seeking compensation on the basis that they were financially dependent on him. In addition to awarding Rs 2 lakh compensation, the court directed the DSLSA to conduct a fact-finding inquiry to assess the actual physical or monetary dependence of the siblings and their children on Javed, in order to determine the precise loss or injury suffered. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
The Hindu
27-04-2025
- The Hindu
DSLSA job fair gives wings to survivors' cherished dreams
'Project Virangana' opens new job avenues for rape and acid attack survivors through skill training and employment opportunities Nishtha*, 38, clutched her training certificate from the Institute of Hotel Management, Pusa — a small document carrying the weight of a long journey. In the quiet corridors of the Rouse Avenue District Courts Complex, hope echoed not through legal arguments or verdicts but through the promise of a fresh start. The Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) recently organised a job fair under 'Project Virangana', enabling 19 survivors of crimes to secure Letters of Intent for employment. Ms.Nishtha, a rape survivor and resident of Swaroop Nagar near Karnal Bypass, previously worked as a conductor on Delhi Transport Corporation buses. She is now hopeful about a brighter future after undergoing training at the institute. 'We learned to prepare different types of coffee, tea, and even mocktails,' she said, adding that she believes that these new skills will help her secure a better-paying job with improved working conditions. Leading recruiters The job fair attracted recruiters from leading names in the hospitality and service sectors, including ITC Hotels Ltd, The Lalit, Chhanv Foundation, Lemon Tree Hotels, and Par Anand Charitable Trust. While some participants were anxious about the job locations and preferred placements near their homes, 22-year-old Tara* stood out for her enthusiasm. 'Will I get a job in a hill station? I love the hills,' she said with a hopeful smile. In his concluding address, Naveen Gupta, Special Secretary of DSLSA, emphasised the initiative's positive impact. Supriya*, 45, shared that she has been selected for a position at a hotel in Motibagh. 'Once I receive my certificate, I'll join soon,' she said. Seema*, 46, another rape survivor and currently an autorickshaw driver, has become aparalegal volunteerwiththeDSLSA after completing a two-day training programme in March. 'I want to do something meaningful with my life. I want to help others who need support,' she said, adding that 'it's okay if I don't get paid'. (*Names changed to protect identity)
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Time of India
A fresh start for sexual assault survivors
New Delhi: For the 32-year-old mother of two who received a letter of intent from a reputed organisation recently, it was like a rebirth. "After going through a lot, this is my second opportunity to live my life with dignity. This opportunity is precious to me. I wish no one has to go through what I did. Our society needs to evolve and raise men who are sensitive enough not to inflict lifetime scars on women's souls," she said. The woman was sexually assaulted in 2021 by a man known to her. She was at a job fair/placement drive that was organised by Delhi State Legal Services Authority under Project Veerangna last week at the Rouse Avenue district courts complex. The event culminated with the issuance of 19 letters of intent (LoIs) after several interview rounds. The average CTC offered was Rs 2 lakh per annum by the five participating companies, recognising the potential and dedication of the candidates. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Lincoln: Born Between 1940-1975 You May Be Eligible For This Life Cover Reassured Get Quote Undo The DSLSA chose a batch of 30 survivors for a 30-hour certification course in the food and beverages sector at the Institute of Hotel Management Catering & Nutrition, Pusa, under the project. The course costs between Rs 1.25-1.5 lakh, but the institution accepted the request of the DSLSA not to charge anything. Training started on March 8. The initiative was part of DSLSA's ongoing efforts to rehabilitate legal services beneficiaries by equipping them with vocational skills. Certificates were given to the survivors of sexual assault and similar offences who had finished the course. The placement drive saw participation by the beneficiaries who interacted with recruiters from leading hospitality and service sector organisations, including ITC Hotels Limited, The Lalit, Chhanv Foundation, Lemon Tree Hotels, and Par Anand Charitable Trust. Another participant who was issued the letter of intent and had survived rape told TOI that she received a call from officials from the DSLSA for the course. "The course offered by IHM was a revelation. I learnt a lot about hospitality, culinary, table manners and a lot more. In such a competitive industry, it feels good to be chosen for a job," the 27-year-old woman said. A 33-year-old survivor of sexual assault, who had opted for the course and got the letter of intent for a job, said: "I used to work with DTC as a driver, but after the incident, I left. I got to know about this course while I was attending my case in court. I decided to opt for it after talking to people in DSLSA. As a mother to a 5-year-old, this will help me in supporting my daughter." Rajeev Bansal, member secretary of DSLSA, emphasised the initiative's role in bringing about positive change. A new round of interviews will soon be conducted by the same industry partners, he said. "These letters of intent signify the beginning of new opportunities. The project stands as a reflection of DSLSA's unwavering commitment to empowering people with dignity and opportunity. More than a rehabilitation initiative , it is a powerful testament to the belief that with the right support, every person can rebuild a meaningful and self-reliant life," he said.
