Law students visit prisoners

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/jul/100708law1.htm
By: Rita Ghose
Date: 2008-07-10

Law students from GJ Advani College and KC College visited Arthur Road and Byculla prisons on Wednesday, following a High Court judgment directing law students to provide legal aid to underprivileged convicts.
Additional sessions judge M N Chohan joined the students as they interacted with 44 murder convicts.
A student revealed that a few classmates interacted with Neeraj Grover murder case accused Maria Susairaj, in the women's cell of the Byculla jail and said, "We will offer her legal aid if she asks. But she is privileged enough to afford lawyers."
"This visit has taught students to deal with cases confidently. Some prisoners need medical aid, while some have been in the jails for 14 to 16 years without a day of parole," said Mahesh Vaswani (46), law student and chairman, legal aid committee, G J Advani College.
"The prisoners questioned the duration of their imprisonment. They pointed out that they were concerned about the future after they are released from prison," said Namita Mistry, a law student after the visit.
Another law student Tina Lewis (27) told MiD DAY, "I met a 55-year-old convict who had murdered a man 10 years ago for kidnapping his daughter who was then 13. Now, even though he has spent 10 years in jail, he was not allowed to attend his daughter's wedding and see his grandchild. If he had free legal aid he could have been granted permission for the visits. We are trying our best to help."
"After long time the High Court realised the need of such legal aid. These visits and practice of legal aid are a combination of social service and learning," said Dr Vijay Ghormade, principal, Advani College.