Advocate High Court, DRT, DRAT, CAT, NCLT, NCLAT, NCDRC, SCDRC
While interacting with legal terms you might have come across a word Pro bono and might have wondered what it exactly meant for.
We heard this term few months back in Delhi politics scenario.
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment.
Unlike traditional volunteerism, it is service that uses the specific skills of professionals to provide services to those who are unable to afford them.
Pro Bono Publico is also used to describe the central motivation of large organizations which exist “for the public good” rather than for shareholder profit.
Pro Bono Publico applies to the private sector also where professionals offer their specialisation for the benefit of the community.
Advocate High Court, DRT, DRAT, CAT, NCLT, NCLAT, NCDRC, SCDRC
The Constitution of India by virtue of Article 39 A directs the State to provide free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of the society, to promote justice on the basis of equal opportunity. Further, Article 14 and 22 (2) of the Constitution ensures equality before law. Also, the United Nations Sustainable Development – Goal 16 underscores the obligation of States ‘to ensure equal access to justice for all’’. Keeping in line with these obligations and with a view to encourage pro bono legal services the Department of Justice (DoJ) intends to create a database of lawyers willing to provide their services to litigants identified under Section 12 of The Legal Services Authority Act of 1987. DoJ has already written to all Bar Councils and Bar Associations across the country to provide information of lawyers who are engaged in providing pro bono legal services to the poor and those who otherwise cannot afford legal representation.
Advocate High Court, DRT, DRAT, CAT, NCLT, NCLAT, NCDRC, SCDRC
Objective
- To encourage lawyers and legal professionals to provide pro bono legal services
- To recognize pro bono legal work being provided by lawyers and legal professionals
- To create a database capturing vital information of lawyers for appropriate positions in the relevant field
Advocate High Court, DRT, DRAT, CAT, NCLT, NCLAT, NCDRC, SCDRC
Scope
Creation of the database will assist the Department of Justice in identifying lawyers providing pro bono services. The information could be utilized by DoJ to create a liaison between entitled to legal services under The Legal Services Authority Act, 1987 and a qualified lawyer providing pro bono services having expertise or interest in the related matter. The government has also proposed to include and recognize pro bono legal assistance provided by lawyers as a yardstick to be considered for appointment to appropriate positions. The database therefore will act as an additional tool for the authorities to assess pro bono services provided by lawyers.
Advocate High Court, DRT, DRAT, CAT, NCLT, NCLAT, NCDRC, SCDRC