Inauguration of the Pro Bono Club at NUJS Kolkata under PBCS, Ministry of Law and Justice, New Delhi and Panel Discussion on “Revisiting Justice – Social, Economic and Political After 75 Years of Independence”

Overview:
The Pro Bono Club at NUJS, under the aegis of the Ministry of Law and Justice, New Delhi, conducted its first offline panel discussion on “Revisiting Justice – Social, Economic and Political After 75 Years of Independence” on 16th August in Room 107, as part of the Inauguration of the Pro Bono Club Chapter. On this occasion, a welcome address is given by Prof. (Dr.) N K Chakrabarti, Vice-Chancellor, NUJS, Kolkata, at 3:00 PM, followed by the Introduction about the PBCS and Future Roadmap given by Ms. Sneha Sharma, Project Manager, Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Services), DoJ. Subsequent to that, the main Panel Discussion on “Revisiting Justice – Social, Economic and Political After 75 Years of Independence” took place in the presence of Dr. Sanjit Kumar Chakraborty, Dr. Shameek Sen, Mr. Agnidipto Tarafder, Dr. M P Chengappa, and Adv. Sonam Basu, Calcutta High Court, which went for more than 90 minutes. Finally, a keynote address is given by the chief guest, Hon’ble Justice Soumen Sen, Judge, Calcutta High Court, at 6:00 PM which went for an hour and ended with the vote of thanks given by Agniva Chaktabarti, a member of the Pro bono club.

Brief Profile of Our Chief Guest, Hon’ble Justice Soumen Sen:
The Hon’ble Justice Soumen Sen was born on 27th July, 1965 in Kolkata. He did his schooling at St. Lawrence High School at Kolkata. He passed the LL.B. Examination (5 years) from the University of Calcutta in the year 1990, securing the highest mark and standing First in the said Examination. He participated in the Debates and Moot Court Competition and was adjudged First in order of merit for individual performance at the XII All India Moot Court Competition 1989 held in Pondicherry in connection with selection for the International Division of Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition – 1989. Enrolled as an Advocate under the Bar Council of West Bengal in January 1991. Practiced as an Advocate in the Hon’ble High Court at Calcutta, both in the Original Side and Appellate Side and before other Courts/Tribunals for the last 20 years designated as Senior Central Government Advocate. Appeared in Civil, Constitutional, Banking and Arbitration matters and on behalf of RBI, SEBI, SIDBI & other Statutory Authorities. He was elevated as Judge of the Calcutta High Court on 13th April 2011.

Outcome:
The Panel discussion turned up very engaging wherein Hon’ble Justice Soumen Sen explained the utmost importance of legal ‘aid’ (he pointed out that perhaps it ought to be called ‘legal support’). He shared his experience as the Chairman of the Calcutta High Court Legal Services Authority and one of pioneer judicial figures at Calcutta High Court who is actively engaged in the awareness of mental health, especially mental health of prisoners in correctional homes.
He encouraged students to do their bit, as much as possible. He quipped, “when you speak to a non-legal person, watch what you wear and what you speak”. He hoped that more and more students will contribute to the growing pro bono legal system and in return learn essential skills even before joining the profession officially.
Lastly, he requested our Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nirmal Kanti Chakraborty and Nodal Officer Prof. Dr. S K. Chakraborty to facilitate holding legal aid camps in the most remotest corners of West Bengal, if possible, to aid to the disadvantaged and promised to be a part of the same.

Venue: Room 107, West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, 12, LB Block, Sector III, Bidhannagar, Kolkata, West Bengal- 700098
Number of Participants: 47