Maharashtra

The Mumbai Unit of HRLN, also known as the India Center for Human Rights and Law, established in 1997 is one of the oldest units of the HRLN network. The work done by this unit is the Criminal Justice Initiative (CJI) and is now recognized as a pioneer in providing legal aid to prison inmates. The CJI has also played a key role in training activists and lawyers in Gujarat to pay a critical role post–Gujarat communal violence. The Mumbai unit is also involved in the campaign for the implementation of the Sri Krishna Commission post the Mumbai communal riots of 1996. Due to the close collaboration with the labour unions in the state, the Mumbai unit has achieved several landmark judgment that championed the cause of labour rights, against contractualisation of the workforce and protecting the rights of salt pan workers being the most significant order.

Main Concerns


1. Women’s Justice: The focus area includes matters pertaining to sexual harassment of women, reproductive rights, and obtaining adequate care and compensation for acid attack survivors

2. Environmental Justice: Displacement and livelihood issues arising from environmental destruction, particularly its impact on marginalised communities.

3. Criminal Justice: Providing legal aid to prisoners and juveniles. The unit also takes up issues pertaining to illegal detention of refugees and trafficking victims in trial courts as well as in the Bombay High Court.

4. Labour Rights: We take up issues pertaining to discrimination, illegal closures and illegal termination of workers.

5. Housing and Land Rights: Matters pertaining to forced evictions and illegal demolitions

6. Health Rights: Issues pertaining to lack of access to medication, medical negligence, right to choose, access to pre and post-natal services particularly to women from marginalised communities.

7. Disability Rights: Accessibility for persons with disabilities in the built environment, discrimination in employment and housing rights for persons with disabilities.

HRLN Nagpur


HRLN chapter of Nagpur, established in 2012, focuses primarily on issues pertaining to nomadic and denotified tribes, Dalits and Tribals. It has been central force in bringing many NTDNT organizations to come to terms and work under one of their umbrella organizations so as to bring unanimity in the struggle for justice, exchange of information, and intellectual partnership. The unit has addressed cases of police excess, torture, atrocities and inactions. It has been instrumental in fighting cases for incarcerated innocents from lower strata of society, at various forums and at various stages.

Main Concerns

1. Welfare of nomadic and denotified tribes, tribals, dalits.

2. Criminal justice: fair trial to one and all, fair justice, anti-capital punishment

3. Health: maternal health, reproductive rights, infant deaths

4. Labour rights

HRLN Impact


The Nagpur unit has established partnerships with tribal organizations, activists, labour movement, political activists, environmental protection organization. It voices the grievances of people in the administrative tribunals, criminal and civil courts. It has been taking up larger public issues to the higher courts. Unit has taken up several labour matters, criminal matters, public interest litigation, writ petitions and litigated successfully. It is recognized by numerous activists and authorities alike, across the State for its dedicated work towards NTDNTS, Dalits, Tribals, health institutions & its quality access, anti trafficking cases, movement based advocacy and campaigning around various issues of civil and political rights.
publication
Whose Environment Is It Anyway!

“Under the guise of ‘ease of doing business’, the mockery being made of existing environmental regulations threate ...read more
news_story
Supreme Court orders Centre, States to submit affidavits on resumption of anganwadi services

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre and the States to submit detailed affidavits on the implementation of a Nove ...read more
news_story
COVID-19: SC seeks implementation of guidelines by Centre, states on Anganwadis

New Delhi November 28 (ANI): The Supreme Court has directed the Central government to file a detailed affidavit on t ...read more
litigation
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
litigation
Bombay High Court allows Medical Termination at 22 weeks of pregnancy

Chetana Sandeep Kadam Vs State of Maharashtra
Disposed Off
litigation
Bombay HC stays demolition of pavement dwellers in Parel, Mumbai

WP. No. 576 of 2020 Dhanpat Muneshwar Tambat V. Assistant municipal Commissioner's Office
Pending
litigation
Bombay HC after allowing termination of pregnancy reiterates that State and its agencies will have to assume full responsibility of child if born alive

Deepali Kambli V. State of Mahrashtra
Disposed off
litigation
Bombay HC allows medical termination at 24 weeks pregnancy

Seema Survase V. State of Maharashtra
Disposed Off
litigation
Challenging Mumbai Police's Gag Order

Geeta Seshu & Ors. v Commissioner of Police, Mumbai & Ors. (PIL CJ-LD-VC No. 19 of 2020)
Disposed off
litigation
Bombay HC allows medical termination at 28 weeks pregnancy

Punam Shah Versus State of Maharashtra
Disposed Off.
training
Webinar on Climate Justice Laws: What We Have and What We Need

As a part of the Students for Human Rights Initiative and the Oak Project the Human Rights Law Network Mumbai collaborat ...read more
training
Webinar on Slum Redevelopment and Challenges to Rehabilitation

Human Rights Law Network conducted a zoom Webinar on Slum Redevelopment and Challenges to Rehabilitation . In the wake o ...read more
publication
Urban Planning Response in Mumbai During the Covid-19 Lockdown

As the first phase (21 days) of the COVID-19 lockdown ends and an additional fortnight is imposed, the State of Maharash ...read more
litigation
Rights of the marginalised in Maharashtra
litigation
Marginalised and Urban Poor in Maharashtra : The Covid-19 Lockdown

Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan & Ors. Vs. Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai & Ors., PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (L) No. 22 OF 2020
Pending

litigation
Bombay High Court grants permission to abort 25 week old pregnancy of minor rape survivor
litigation
Bombay High Court liberally interprets The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 to allow the termination of pregnancy post 20 weeks

Shaikh Ayesha Khatoon v. The State of Maharashtra
Disposed

litigation
SC asks Maharashtra chief secy to pay Rs 100 crore for restoration of rivers damaged by pollution


litigation
Bombay high court asks MHADA to increase quota for disabled from 2% to 3%


litigation
Bombay High Court has ordered to ensure the title of lands of around 50,000 SC/STs landless families after HRLN PIL


litigation
Bombay HC rules in favour of man who was disqualified from holding post of Chowkidar because of partial blindness


litigation
Bombay High Court orders restoration of concessional and preferential treatment to persons with disabilities


litigation
Chandrabhan B. Tadi v. Life Insurance Corporation of India & Anr.


litigation
HRLN has filed a PIL to Compensate the Acid attack Survivor under Maharashtra's Manodhairya Yojana in the Bombay High Court


litigation
Bombay High Court orders second line treatment to people living with HIV/AIDS


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


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


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


litigation
A successful appeal against a charge of murder: Irfan Nizam Qureshi vs. The State of Maharashtra
publication
Promise and performance : 10 years of the Forest Rights Act in India

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA 2006) was enact ...read more
publication
Trends and Directions in the Implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights) Act, 2006 after Twelve Years

The faculty members and research scholars of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai have been actively engaged ...read more