The Pune District Legal Services Authority (PDLSA) on Wednesday has finalized a panel of 13 members and lawyers to plead on behalf of the senior citizens in the district for no cost at all. The free legal service has been the endeavor of National Legal Services Authority as per the National Plan of Action 2012.

R K Malabade, the secretary of PDLSA said that they had organized the committee based on the guidance and advices from the chairman of the community and the sessions judge Anant Badar. The initiative was started on October 1, senior citizens day, after they had organized camps to increase the legal awareness at Matoshree old age home. “We will organise similar workshops at other old age homes for active senior citizens groups", he said.

Malabade said, "A panel of 13 lawyers will provide legal aid to senior citizens from Pune district. These lawyers are experts in civil, criminal, revenue, family, consumer, land reference and other cases".

A member of the panel of lawyers said that any senior citizen can approach them to file a case, the PDLSA would be with them. In the case that the filed case is not under their jurisdiction, the person would be referred to legal services authority from the district concerned.

PDLSA would be available for senior citizens on their telephone 020-25534881 or at their office located on first floor of the new building in Shivajinagar district court premises. Timings are from 11 am to 5 pm. The numbers of the lawyers would also be provided by the PDLSA.

(AW- Anil)