WBNUJS Launches Free Legal Aid Clinic for Voters with Deleted Names
The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) has taken a significant step to assist citizens whose names have been removed from voter lists or are stuck in adjudication processes. The university's Legal Aid Society, comprising three dedicated professors and a team of student volunteers, officially commenced this free legal assistance initiative on Friday.
Operational Details and Initial Response
The Legal Aid Clinic operates daily from noon until 5 pm at the university campus. On its inaugural day, the clinic received an overwhelming response with at least 35 calls from individuals seeking help to draft appeals before the appropriate tribunal. One of the first visitors was a resident of Bowbazar who arrived seeking assistance after discovering his name had been deleted from electoral rolls.
Vice Chancellor Nandimath O V emphasized the university's commitment, stating: "Our fundamental responsibility is to provide assistance and work tirelessly for justice. This initiative reflects our dedication to serving the community and upholding democratic rights."
Purpose and Methodology
Professor Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan, faculty adviser of the Legal Aid Society, explained the clinic's mission: "Our primary objective is to collectively support genuine voters who have been unjustifiably removed from electoral lists and consequently deprived of their fundamental voting rights. Through systematic assistance, we aim to help more and more people reclaim their lost democratic privileges."
The clinic adopts a case-specific approach. Subharun Das, a first-year student and active member of the Society, shared details about their first client: "Afaque Ahmed Khan, a Bowbazar resident, visited us today. His name, along with his wife's and another family member's, has been deleted, while his parents' names remain on the electoral roll. Although his name appeared on the 2022 electoral list and he submitted all required documents during the hearing, he still faced deletion. We're helping him prepare a comprehensive appeal draft since the online appeal system doesn't allow document attachments."
Strategic Assistance Approach
Professor Khan elaborated on their methodology: "Each case presents unique circumstances and merits individual attention. Many clients have already filed online appeals, but as a strategic enhancement, we're helping them create detailed petitions with attached documents. We advise submitting hard copies offline since the online portal lacks document submission options. This approach complements their existing appeals rather than creating separate ones."
Geographical Reach and Accessibility
Ankit Amarnath, a fourth-year student and student-coordinator of the Society, highlighted their expanding reach: "We're receiving calls from various districts across West Bengal. Recognizing that not everyone can visit our campus on short notice, we've implemented a digital assistance system. We ask people to send their issues and relevant documents via WhatsApp for preliminary review. For those located in Kolkata, we also encourage physical visits to our clinic for more comprehensive assistance."
Client Experiences and Testimonials
Md Zaeed, an elector from Jorasanko, contacted the NUJS team seeking guidance for his appeal submission. He shared: "I remain uncertain about why my name was deleted. After submitting an online appeal, the NUJS team recommended filing a physical appeal with supporting documents for better effectiveness."
Saket Saroki reached out to the Society regarding his elderly in-laws who were unexpectedly removed from voter rolls. He explained: "Both are senior citizens who have been consistent voters in the Bhowanipore constituency for many years. Their names inexplicably disappeared from the rolls. Due to health constraints, they couldn't attend the hearing, resulting in their names being deleted."
The WBNUJS Legal Aid Clinic represents a crucial community service initiative that bridges the gap between legal expertise and citizens facing electoral challenges. By providing free, structured assistance, the university demonstrates its commitment to strengthening democratic processes and ensuring every eligible voter can exercise their fundamental right.
