By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, December 22, 2015 : In a bid to provide legal re-conciliatory advices to the people and to reduce the number of litigations in the courts, the Odisha government has decided to set up Legal Assistance Cell (LAC) at gram panchayat level by July next year.

A decision to this effect was taken at a high level review meeting presided over by chief secretary AP Padhi at the State Secretariat here on Tuesday.

As per the decision taken at the meeting, the system will be implemented under the joint aegis of Law and Panchayati Raj departments. The Panchayati Raj department will provide basic infrastructure a
nd logistics at Panchayat level for establishment of the cell while the Law department will select suitable advocates for the Cell.

Besides, advocate, engaged for each Cell, will be paid a fee of Rs 500 per sitting to provide the legal advice to the people free of cost.

The Cell will sit once a week in each Panchayat. The Panchayats will be provided separate contingency for the purpose.

Meanwhile, Panchayati Raj department has already taken up the administrative operations for the functioning of the Cells. The Cell will be accommodated in Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendras preferably on Friday or Saturday.

Budget estimate to the tune of around Rs 30.5 lakh has been earmarked for meeting the expenses towards furniture, fees and contingency for the year 2016-17, an official press release said.