Legal Support Group

What is envisaged

Two thoughts

• History is witness that every nation which rose from the ashes did that on the basis of iron discipline and the willingness to invest time, energy and resources in its own future

Justice is not given. It must be taken

Need• Minorities and weaker sections are routinely

discriminated against• State sides with those already empowered• Judicial redressal of aberrations illusory• Judicial and administrative bias aggravates it• Civil society, pluralism, inclusiveness,

secularism all take a hit.

Does anyone doubt that there is a dire need for an organization to change this?

Indian Constitution

• Guarantees equal rights• Guarantees equal

freedom• Guarantees legal

redressal • Guarantees non-

discrimination

• But all guarantees have to be invoked and won

• All discrimination has to be established and challenged

• Legal redressal is only for those who apply

Freedom is not free - Neither is slavery

Current scenario• Rapid polarization along caste lines• Visible in all strata of society – Executive,

Judiciary, Legislature, Military, Police, Education, Social Work and Business

• Muslims are targeted at all levels and are helpless to get redressal

• Muslims have aggravated their own problems• Bridges are burning

Security of the nation is threatened first in the mind

• Strength– Highly educated and capable minority within

• Weakness– Highly ignorant and weak majority among us

• Opportunity– Use the legal system to challenge discrimination

• Threat– Annihilation

Our SWOT

Benefits• Organization is not as susceptible to being targeted

as an individual would be• Higher public and media credibility of an organization• Inclusive structure for anyone who needs help• Representative of larger sections of society• Participative ownership realizable from subscriptions

on a monthly basis• Organization acquires momentum of its own

We take benefits to be self-evident

Structure• NGO type Trust free from interference• Senior Advocate to head • Litigation, Media Response & PR staff• Office staff to support the exercise• Computing equipment and subscriptions

including to electronic magazines and books• Data collection, compiling, storage and

retrieval mechanisms, safe from e-theft

The legal structure that gives the best leverage.

HeadSenior Advocate

Litigation Group

Media Response Group PR Group

Executive Assistant

Governing Council

LSG

Advisory Council

Head LSG is a member of the Governing Council

Key Names• Governing Council • Advisory Council• Head - LSG • Selection Criteria– Professional Track Record– Neutrality and Fairness– Stature in society– Principle based activism

Names must inspire confidence

Essential Character

• Completely Apolitical and Unaffiliated• Open to all• Funders will not call the shots• Collaborative decision making• Absolute fairness and impartiality

Walk the talkLoss of credibility is loss of life

� �وا �ون � ك �وا �ذ�ين آمن �ها ال ي ا أ ي

هداء �ق�س�ط� ش� �ال قو�ام�ين بو�

�م� أ ك نف�س� و� على أ 'ه� ول �ل ل�ن �ين إ ب ق�ر �ن� واأل �دي �وال ال'ه� ا فالل و� فقير-

.ا أ �ي �ن� غن ك ي � �ع�وا �ب ت ت �ه�ما فال و�لى ب

أ�ن � وإ �وا ع�د�ل ن ت �هوى أ ال

'ه �ن� الل � فإ �ع�ر�ض�وا و� ت � أ �و�وا ل ت

ا �ير- ب ع�مل�ون خ �ما ت ان ب ك

Nisa 4:135 O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allâh,

even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allâh is a Better Protector to both

(than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if

you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allâh is Ever Well Acquainted with

what you do

Deliverables• Track media reports and book contents• Take proactive/preemptive action to protect the

interests of the weaker sections• Monitor legislations and welfare schemes of

Government and implementation mechanisms• Fight cases supportive of Rule of Law• Create evaluation and alternative policy team• Build bridges with others who share concerns

Annual Report to be sharedOne win will justify the investment

Investment • Rs.5 lakhs per month / Rs.60 lakhs per annum• Not inclusive of court costs and other such

expenses• Must create a Contingency Fund in addition• Eventual aim is to create a structure that is self

supporting and acquires a momentum of its own, also attracting further funding

Value of investment is directly proportional to expected benefit

Decision Points

• Go? – No Go?• Who else to involve?• How to raise the funds?• When do we go live?

Work quietly, so our efforts are not nipped in the bud