Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice Initiative (CJI) provides pro-bono and low-cost legal aid service to undertrials and convicted prisoners who are unable to pay for their legal representation. CJI’s work is to defend civil liberties and to create a more humane criminal justice system. The emphasis is on greater access to justice for the poor, workers, disabled, aged, sick, tribal, women, Dalit, juveniles and other minorities.

What HRLN Does


One of CJI’s main focus areas is work inside the prison, as it believes in corrections via jails and prisons, which can only be understood by reviewing prison conditions and capital punishment laws. CJI works with progressive prison administrators and police personnel to set up legal aid clinics in prisons with the objective of representing indigent undertrials. Since 2002, it has been instrumental in setting up a legal aid mechanism for prisoners in Delhi. Though the Indian judiciary uses of death penalty, HRLN strongly believes in its abolition.

Main Concerns

·      Prison conditions
·      Practice of death penalty
·      Legislative, executive and judicial expansion of police powers
·      Organises fact-finding missions
·      Work on rehabilitation for the ex-inmates

HRLN Impact

The CJI team is at the forefront of the reform work in prisons. Strongly condemning custodial torture and violence, its petition in the Bombay High Court asked for improving the visiting condition of prisoners and their families (See: Kavita Kaushik vs State of Maharashtra.)

Another landmark case decided in the Bombay High Court resulted in the release of hundreds of under-trial prisoners, who had been languishing in prisons for far longer than the maximum term of their punishment due to slow court procedures (See: Shabnam Miniwaalla Vs. State of Maharashtra). However, statistics still show that 70% of India’s prison inmates are undertrials and much remains to be done to improve the criminal justice system of the country.
Praveer Peter and Mrinalini Adela Tete
litigation
Communal disharmony at its peak. And the only legit argument :

Kalyani Kumari & Anr vs. State of Jharkhand & Ors. WP (Cri.) 305/2020
Pending. Though Kalyani has been released from the shelter home, and the couple is living in their matrimonial house together.

Jharkhand News and Rajesh Soreng
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Women Tribal Hockey Players' Friendship Twisted : A new approach to Honour Killing

Rajesh Soreng vs. State of Jharkhand & Ors. WP (Cri.) 64/2020
Pending
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Helpless widow mother being tortured by her Responsible Four sons and Daughter-in-laws

C-366/2020 Gita rani Karmakar Versus Raj Kumar Karmakar & Ors.
Summon Issued
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Covid-19 and Prisoners Rights in Maharashtra

Archana Rupwate vs state of Maharashtra and others, Cri IA No. 1 OF 2020 In Cri PIL 15 of 2018.`
pending
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Medical Termination of Pregnancy of rape victim

Raju Ravidas Versus State of Jharkhand and ors.
Disposed of

Indian Express
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Bail Granted for non compliance with Section 50 NDPS, Act 1985

Devendra Dangi vs State of Madhya Pradesh
Disposed off

Indian Express
litigation
False case filed against Environment Activist

Deepak Alias Deepu vs State of Madhya Pradesh
Disposed off
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50 Year old Upper Caste Man rapes a Dalit girl for over a year

Praveen Kumar v. State of Haryana
On-going Investigation

litigation
Delhi HC quashes ‘LEAVE INDIA NOTICE’ to Pakistani Woman
publication
CRIMINAL LAW: LAW FOR ACTIVISTS SERIES VOLUME I

CRIMINAL LAW: LAW FOR ACTIVISTS SERIES VOLUME I Published by : HRLN ...read more
publication
National Consultation on Criminal Justice Reforms

An important report covering proceeding of national consultations held on criminal justice reforms in the country. ...read more
publication
Child Sexual Abuse and the Law

This book analyses important judgement from India and abroad and is useful for advocate and NGOs when they take child se ...read more
publication
Domestic Violence and the Law

Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence Act, 2005 came into force on October 17, 2006. This is a landmark legislat ...read more
news_story
Forced to marry her maternal uncle: SC directs J&K Police to ensure girl’s safety

The Supreme Court on 12th October issued an order to Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police in a Habeas Corpus ...read more
litigation
Delhi HC directs media houses to remove all inflammatory content defaming missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed


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Delhi High Court allows CBI to file closure report on Najeeb's disappearance
publication
Lawyer Shreeji Bhavsar speaks on the sexual assault and murder of 15 year old girl in Dholpur, Rajasthan #BetiBachao

Rajasthan High Court, on September 25th, 2018, issued notice to the state government and CBI in case of sexual assault a ...read more
publication
Letter to Colin Gonsalves from Badol farazi; a Bangladeshi citizen, who was trapped in an Indian jail for 10 years

Badol Farazi, a Bangladeshi migrant, was arrested from the Benapole Immigration checkpost in 2008 on charges of a murder ...read more
news_story
HRLN impact | Gurgaon court convicts man who threw acid on minor boy

After Human Rights Law Network intervention, justice finally arrived for a minor male child — who was abducted and att ...read more
litigation
High Court issues notice to media houses in the defamation case filed by Fatima Nafees, Najeeb's mother #BringBackNajeeb


litigation
National Security Act withdrawn against Bhim Army founder Chandrshekhar
news_story
2007, 2008 riots: SC issues notice to Odisha govt over compensation disbursement

The Supreme Court acting on a contempt petition filed by Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) on Friday (7th September) issue ...read more
litigation
BT road 'fake encounter': Mother of victim files impleadment petition
litigation
Delhi High Court convicts 33 accused persons in Mirchpur caste atrocity case
publication
No country for its own children: Only constant vigilance and swift action can stop child rapes in India

Human Rights Law Network expresses its concern over the recent and increasingly distressing slew of child sexual abuse c ...read more
litigation
Begging in the national capital no longer to be a crime: Delhi HC declares anti-begging provisions unconstitutional
litigation
Supreme Courts judgment on #Lynching a hope for India
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Delhi fast-track court punishes rape accused with 20 years rigorous punishment; Victim compensated with Rs 5 lakh


litigation
Wayanad: Biological mother granted custody of minor child, who was separated from adoptive mother


litigation
17 year old tortured in custody by officers from Mumbai Railway Protection Force dies
publication
Fatima Nafees files defamation suit against Times of India, Times Now, Dilli Aaj Tak for spreading defamatory fake news against son, Najeeb Ahmed

Fatima Nafees, the mother of missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed, last week filed a suit in the Delhi high court through Hu ...read more
litigation
Adilabad District Court sets law in motion against Police in alleged fake encounter case


litigation
UP Court orders bail of domestic worker, her husband in frivolous complaint


litigation
Shamlipur violence: Do not arrest until you find credible evidence, UP court directs police


litigation
Case of domestic abuse
litigation
Babita Devi's husband was found dead a day after taken into police custody; her fight for justice continues
litigation
PIL filed for proper implementation of Juvenile Justice Act in J&K


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Petition demanding transfer of investigation of deceased rape victim aged 20 to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) .
litigation
Court passes prison improvement measures for ensuring safety of inmates, such as CCTV footage recording and regular medical check-ups for inmates
litigation
J&K High Court directs FIR, investigation into report of custodial disappearance


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Petition challenging detention under Public Safety Act in J&K


publication
Naga People's Movement of Human Rights vs Union of India

(Note: Colin Gonsalves ceased to be a Director of the Human Rights Law Network (SLIC) a long time ago. However, our foun ...read more

litigation
Surety amounts and those who cannot afford them: Case of Shobhanaben


litigation
Punjab HC directs State Government to award compensation to orphans


litigation
Compensation for illegal detention and assault in custody


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SC Commutes Death Sentences of 15 Convicts to Life Imprisonment


litigation
Punjab HC directs the State Government to award Compensation for Acid-Attack Survivor
litigation
Manipur HC directs payment of compensation in various fake encounters by armed forces


litigation
Sexual assault survivor escapes shelter home in Jharkhand, missing thereafter
litigation
A minor girl from Jharkhand missing since 2012


litigation
Pushpa Devi's struggle to seek justice for her husband's murder continues
litigation
Court orders Rs 5 lakh as compensation to kin of 18-year-old killed in fake encounter by army


litigation
Sexual violence, physical assault, looting of property and destruction of property by the security forces consisting of CoBRA, CRPF, District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the local police in the villages of Pedagallur, Chhattisgarh


litigation
SC remands previously dismissed writ petition on torture to Bombay high court


litigation
Woman files FIR against her husband for committing rape, fraud, cheating, assault, torture and trying to poison her


litigation
Petition to transfer the investigation of politically motivated crimes to an independent body


litigation
Aftab Alam's brother, an under-trial, succumbed to his burn injuries after informing his family that an unknown person set him on fire in prison


litigation
SC Acquits Person on Death Row


litigation
Dalit woman fights for a fair investigation into her husband's murder at the hands of upper caste men


litigation
Writ Petition filed to provide Assistance to an Indian citizen held in Foreign Custody


litigation
Petition for Compensation to be awarded for the negligence of State authorities


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Woman belonging to a scheduled caste gangraped, prosecutrix on the case abducted
litigation
Supreme Court passes landmark judgement seeking detailed reports on alleged fake encounters in Manipur
litigation
Case of Domestic Violence in Itanagar


litigation
Woman harassed and murdered by in-laws for giving birth to girls: FIR registered under section 306
litigation
8 lac compensation to the family of the sewage worker who died from suffocation inside a sewer chamber and contractor banned for 7 years


litigation
Manipur high court orders Union of India, BSF to pay compensation of Rs 5 lakh to BSF firing victim


litigation
SC directs Centre to pay Rs 10 lakh as interim compensation to mother of girl killed by Assam Rifles personnel


litigation
Petition filed to secure the rights of the oppressed and underprivileged people of Birbhum


litigation
Arrested in Mauritius, Indian man moves Bombay high court over 'extra' time behind bars


litigation
Writ filed against Police for their inaction and for directions to initiate criminal proceedings against the sexual assault perpetrators
litigation
Fake encounter: Manipur HC orders compensation of Rs 15 lakh to the victim's family


litigation
Petition seeks CBI inquiry into allegations of fraud, embezzlement under NRHM in Nagaland


litigation
Supreme Court commutes death sentence of four people to life imprisonment


litigation
SC commutes death sentences of 15 Convicts, due to delay in mercy plea decisions


litigation
PIL filed to demand establishment of State Commission for protection of child rights and appointment of one public prosecutor in every juvenile court in WB


litigation
Supreme Court Ruling against Compulsory Voting
litigation
PIL filed for provision of mid day meals to children and for investigation into misappropriation of funds.


litigation
SC-appointed Commission gives report on its investigation of the extra-judicial killings in Manipur


litigation
FIR registered against the poisoning of wife for dowry


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Tribal girl trafficked from Jharkhand to Delhi rescued


litigation
No need of police probe in complaint against the force: Delhi Court


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The right to fair representation under legal aid: Ramchandra Nivrutti Mulak vs. The State of Maharashtra


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Overturning a wrongful conviction for murder: Krishna Kunjaram Nair @ Pillai vs. The State of Maharashtra


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Ensuring the right to health for prisoners: Rajesh Raghunath Kanojia vs. State of Maharashtra & others


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Compelling proper investigation of an FIR: Smt Bhama Behera vs State of Orissa and Others


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A successful appeal against a charge of murder: Irfan Nizam Qureshi vs. The State of Maharashtra
publication
Citizens’ Guide to Criminal Law

...read more
litigation
Violatence upon Transgender Person

Kasba Police Station 393 dated 17.10.2020
Investigation is pending