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[ALF Communications Coordinator]

ALF needs your help! ALF is still raising funds for the legal assistance initiative, to represent people from marginalised communities. Click on the above image to see the details of this fundraising campaign. In this campaign, we have been able to raise only Rs. 2,17,937 out of the needed Rs. 6,00,000. Please take a few minutes to read about the work being done by our team of lawyers and the nature of work you will be contributing towards, if you choose to donate to our campaign. Caste Atrocities Represented a person who was illegally detained, assaulted and abused Puneeth, a young Dalit man, was illegally detained by a Sub-Inspector. He was brutally assaulted, verbally abused with casteist slurs and was forced to drink urine of a fellow inmate. ALF represented Puneeth in the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka and argued for against the rejection of his bail. After a dismissal by the High Court, ALF followed up with the Superintendent of Police in CID to whom the case was referred for investigation. Due to timely intervention and advocacy, the officer was able to arrest the accused, who was sent to judicial custody. They also filed the chargesheet on time. Represented two young men who were lynched by a mob of dominant caste men Two Dalit men were brutally assaulted and lynched to death by a mob of dominant caste men in Pedenahalli, Tumkur, Karnataka. Members of ALF visited the area, spoke to witnesses and other human rights organisations, while monitoring the developments in the investigation. ALF represented the deceased victims at the District and Session Court, Tumkur. They objected to the bail petition filed by the 28 accused persons, and ensured that it was rejected. Legal assistance for slum residents Neelagiri Thopu Slum Dwellers: Houses of around 112 families residing in a slum near Nandini Layout were demolished by the KIADB. The families, in which most of the men work as rag-pickers, were forced to set up make-shift tents on the foorbath around Neelagiri Thopu. Slum Janadolana Karnataka, an organisation working with the community, approached ALF, to file a Public Interest Litigation, demanding for resettlement and rehabilitation of all the displaced families. After two years of hearings, the High Court of Karnataka passed an order directing the Slum Board to provide houses for these slum dwellers within the vicinity of the present settlement as a part of an ongoing housing project for the slum dwellers. Legal assistance in a case of custodial death Custodial Death of Fairoz Khan: Fairoz Khan, an undertrial prisoner was brutally assaulted by Central Prison officials at Parappana Agrahara and died due to failure of internal organs. His family members approached ALF, seeking justice for the death of Fairoz. On their behalf, ALF filed a complaint with the SHRC with the prayer to transfer the investigation to CID and provide a compensation of Rs. 10,00,000 for the deceased family. ALF represented them throughout the case demanding for compensation, and for the case to be transferred to CID. The Commission recommended the State Government to pay Rs.10,00,000 and the case was transferred to CID for further investigation. Legal assistance for speedy disposal of a case Foreigners Act A Netherlands national was arrested under Foreigners Act and other provisions of IPC, accused of possessing a fake passport and visa. After 8 years without trial, ALF intervened and filed a petition under Section 482 CrPC for speedy disposal of the trial. The High Court of Karnataka directed the trial court to complete the trial within six months. ALF cross-examined all witnesses and ensured that the person was acquitted by the trial court. Legal assistance for the repatriation of a survivor of human trafficking Mandira is a survivor of human trafficking. She hails from Bangladesh and was trafficked to India on the promise of employment. The police conducted a raid in which Mandira and 7 other women were rescued and placed in the State Home for Women. Meanwhile, it was also found that she was pregnant. ALF approached the High Court of Karnataka seeking a speedy repatriation. The Court passed the Orders for the repatriation of Mandira as well as her child. Mandira has now received her travel permit and is awaiting to go back home. Legal assistance and Advocacy for the rights of sex workers with the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission Karnataka State Human Rights Commission order in favour of sex workers: Sex workers regularly face violence at the hands of the police. They are illegally detained, beaten up and abused. ALF filed a complaint on behalf of two sex workers against police violence before the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC). After a long battle, in September 2022 the KSHRC held that the sex workers’ right to dignity, equality and equal protection of law had been violated by the police officers. It further went on to award a compensation of Rs. 20,000/- each to the affected women. Legal assistance and advocacy for the establishment of shelters for the urban homeless Establishment of Homeless shelters ALF is representing People’s Union for Civil Liberties before the High Court of Karnataka to challenge The Karnataka Prohibition of Beggary Act, 1975 and demand for the establishment of the Homeless shelters across the State of Karnataka. The Court directed the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) Department to set up 166 Urban homeless shelters within 6 months throughout Karnataka including 84 Urban homeless shelters within Bangalore Urban district. A member of ALF, who is a Supreme Court appointed Independent Impartial Committee member (IIC), is following up with the NULM and BBMP to monitor the implementation. Currently, in Bangalore, out of 84 shelter homes to be established, 63 shelters have been approved, out of which presently 42 shelters are functional and 21 shelters are yet to be functional. Similarly, 101 urban Homeless shelters across the state are functional, and as per the department report, 3,371 people are using the shelters in the entire State. Legal Assistance to an activist for the Appointment of Chairperson to the SC/ST Commission In order to protect and provide safeguards to people from SC and ST communities, the state government established the Karnataka State Commission for SC and ST. However, this Commission was not functional as per the vision, because the post of the Chairperson remained vacant. ALF provided legal assistance to a Dalit activist and filed a writ of mandamus before the High Court of Karnataka for compliance of the law, and accordingly the High Court directed the State Government to appoint Chairperson to the Karnataka State Commission for Scheduled Caste and Schedule Tribe. Click here to support the team of lawyers providing legal assistance.