Dr. Mukund Sarda helps solve Matrimonial cases with ‘Free Legal Aid Center on Family Matters’

There is nothing new about Family Discords. They existed long before we were born and would cease to end long after we are gone. Flares are expected to shoot up when people are to live with each other for a long time. The only thing that has changed is the number of cases of such discords that reach to the courts for resolution. In the past decade, there has been a steep surge in the number of family discord cases being registered. This increase is one of the reasons for the huge backlog of cases. Dr. Mukund Sarda, Principal, New Law College, Bharati Vidyapeeth University has devised a way to sort these cases at pre-litigation stage.

‘Free Legal Aid Centre on Family Matters’ started at New Law College by Dr. Mukund Sarda aims to resolve family matters in an amicable way. This centre has been operational since 2 years and has resolved over 415 cases. Here, an esteemed panel of 20 experienced lawyers and academicians help resolve family matters by their free legal advice and counseling of the parties.

For the students of NLC, this serves as the perfect place to learn how to approach and resolve marital and family discords. Law students are encouraged to carefully observe and actively participate in the proceedings. They are even sensitized about the cases and recommended to view them from an emotional view point as well.

A major number of such cases involve domestic violence, live-in relationships and old people who are disowned by their families. The government has established laws like Protection of Women against Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, but it isn’t always possible for people to take the matters to the courts as it involves time and money. In such cases, ‘Free Legal Aid Centre on Family Matters’ serves as the way out.