Pravasi Legal Cell

PLC has submitted a representation to the MEA for issuing guidelines to the Indian embassies in foreign countries to ensure that the mortal remains of Indians who were died abroad due to the COVID-19 virus are cremated with dignity.

Considering the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent global economic crisis, Pravasi Legal Cell has submitted a representation to the Ministry of Finance, Government of India requesting to declare moratorium for a period of 12 months on all loans taken by the citizens in general and the Indian emigrants in particular. Please find a copy of the representation submitted to the Ministry. In order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, kindly avoid unnecessary travelling a nd follow the instructions given by the respective governments. Be safe, Thank you.

We are happy to inform you that as of now 13 states have responded positively to the PIL filed by PLC in the Supreme Court of India, seeking directions for establishing online RTI portals across all Indian states. The remaining states are directed to file their response before the next hearing date. Please find a PLC Press Release on the same. In News Marunadan Malayai:  https://www.marunadanmalayali.com/news/india/rti-180197 Gulf News:  https://www.topgulfnews.com/post/6721/kuwait-gcc-gulfnews-topgulfnews Kerala Kaumudi: https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=264213&u=rti Deepika: https://www.deepika.com/nri/Pravasi_News.aspx?nriCode=NRI6&newscode=115447 Tejas News: https://www.thejasnews.com/latestnews/states-have-prepared-an-online-portal-to-submit-applications-under-the-rti-act-127885 Sathyam Online: https://www.sathyamonline.com/national-news-673/

Pravasi Legal Cell conducted a Niyamavedi on the “Rights of Inter-State Migrant Labourers” at YMCA Auditorium, Perumbavoor, Kerala on March 8, 2020. Shri. Benny Behanan, Member of Parliament, inaugurated the Niyamavedi. During the inaugural address, he promised that steps would be taken to protect the rights of the interstate migrant labourers in Kerala. Adv. Eldhose Kunnapilly, MLA, Perumbavoor was the Guest of Honour. During the Niyamavedi, Shri. Benny Behanan MP released a leaflet in Hindi, detailing various rights of inter-state migrant labourers. Adv. Eldhose Kunnapilly, MLA Perumbavoor, received the first copy. Adv. Jose Abraham, President, Pravasi Legal Cell, Smt. Sathy Jayakrishnan, Chairperson, Perumbavoor Municipality, Smt. Laisamma George, Director, Milma, Adv. Sapna Raj M, Project Manager, Rajagiri OutREACH Migrant Centre and Shri. Mukthar P. A., Manager, J. H. S. School, Perumbavoor spoke on the topic. Adv. D B Binu, President, Pravasi Legal Cell (Ke...

Pravasi Legal Cell Kerala Chapter is organising a Niyamavedi on “Rights of Inter-State Migrant Labourers” on March 8, 2020 (Sunday) at YMCA Hall, Perumbavoor, Kerala at 2.00 pm. Hon’ble Member of Parliament Shri. Benny Behanan MP will inaugurate the Niyamavedi. Adv. Eldhose Kunnampilly, MLA, Perumbavoor will be the Guest of Honour. Adv. N C Mohanan, Chairman, Transformers and Electricals Kerala Limited and Adv. Jose Abraham, Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India & National President, Pravasi Legal Cell will speak on the topic. Adv. D B Binu, President, Pravasi Legal Cell (Kerala Chapter) will preside over the Niyamavedi. Smt. Sathy Jayakrishnan, Municipal Chairperson, Perumbavoor Municipality, Smt. Laisamma George, Director, Milma, Smt. Nisha Vinayan, Deputy Chairperson, Perumbavoor Municipality, Shri. Faisal. P. A, Circle Inspector, SHO Perumbavoor, Shri. K. R. Manoj, Circle Inspector, SHO Kuruppampady, Shri. T M Zakir Hussain ,KPCC, General Secretary, Shri...

Many thanks to the Ministry of External Affairs for taking the necessary action on the representation submitted by Pravasi Legal Cell. Earlier Kuwait has issued a circular stating that all passengers coming from 10 countries, including India, must produce a medical certificate to prove that they are free from corona virus. And the circular said that the medical certificate must be issued by health centers approved by the Kuwait embassy in each country. Where countries in Kuwait has no embassy, medical centers issuing the certificates must be accredited by these countries’ health authorities. This created a lot of difficulties and confusions among the Indian Emigrant who are travelling to Kuwait. Against this circular the Pravasi Legal Cell submitted a representation on same day to the MEA explaining the practical difficulty in obtaining such certificate, which will affect large number of Indians working in Kuwait and also people currently on vacation in India. As Dr. T V N...

Pravasi Legal Cell is happy to announce its National RTI Award for the year 2019 K. Padmanabhan Memorial National Award for RTI Activists, 2019 will be awarded to Shri. Subhash Chandra Agrawal and Shri. R. Radhakrishnan. Shri. Subash Chandra Agrawal is a well-known RTI activist in the country. In a petition filed by him, the Hon’ble Supreme Court had ruled in 2019 that the office of the Chief Justice of India would come under purview of the RTI Act 2005. He was successful in achieving many such orders which have strengthened the Act. As a person who worked for the protection and welfare of people in the media, journalist Shri. R. Radhakrishnan has made important interventions by using the Right to Information Act 2005. He serves as the Bureau Chief at News 24, New Delhi. K. Padmanabhan Memorial National Award for RTI activists is instituted by Pravasi Legal Cell in memory of Shri. K. Padmanabhan, its first General Secretary. He was a retired Intelligence Bureau office...

Dear Friends, A few photographs from the Awareness programme organised  by Pravasi Legal Cell’s Kerala Chapter and Study Path International, Australia on studying abroad. We are grateful to Study Path International and its members for helping us to organise such an awareness event at Cochin in a short period of time. Many thanks to all those who participated.  Thank you Dr. Bins Sebastian  Secretary, Pravasi Legal Cell

Dear friends, Please find a few news reports by national and regional media about PLC's Public Interest Litigation, challenging Rule 43 of the Aircraft (Public Health) Rules, 1954 which mandates advance intimation of atleast 48 hours to the airport health officers about the incoming of Indian citizens' mortal remains from abroad. The Hon’ble Delhi High Court has held that the 48 hours prior intimation is not mandatory for repatriation of dead bodies to India as was enforced by Air India in the year 2017. In News Live Law: https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/48-hours-advance-intimation-not-mandatory-to-bring-mortal-remains-of-indian-emigrants-from-abroad-centre-tells-delhi-hc-152775 Sathyam Online: https://www.sathyamonline.com/national-news-delhi-highcourt/ Deepika  https://www.deepika.com/nri/Pravasi_News.aspx?nriCode=NRI6&newscode=114863

Dear friends, We are happy to announce the releasing of "Safe Emigration (Tamil)" authored by Mr. Jose Abraham, AOR, Supreme Court of India, and translated into Tamil by Mr. Saranath, Advocate, Madras High Court. Published by Paideia Books, the book will be released by Hon’ble Justice N. Seshasayee, Judge, High Court of Madras on January 3, 2020 at the Madras Reporters Guild, Chepauk, Chennai at 4.00 pm. Hon’ble Dr. Justice (Rtd.) P. Jyothimani, former Judge, High Court of Madras & Chairman, Monitoring Committee, Solid Waste Management, Southern States will be receiving the first copy of the book. All are welcome.

Applications are invited for Pravasi Legal Cell's K. Padmanabhan Memorial National Award for the year 2019. The award, instituted in the memory of late Shri K. Padmanabhan, the first Secretary of Pravasi Legal Cell and a prominent RTI activist, is intended to encourage and appreciate RTI activists who have been working to make social changes using the Right to Information Act, 2005. The notification and application form is given below. The last date to receive applications/nominations is January 10, 2020.

The official inauguration of the Pravasi Legal Cell Kuwait Chapter was held on December 3, 2019 at Al Hamra Hotel in Kuwait. H.E. Sheikh DouaigKhalifa Al Sabah, Consultant of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Europe Affairs Department, State of Kuwait inaugurated the event. Many Indians in Kuwait and social & cultural dignitaries participated at the event.  Thanks to all those who help and support to its success.  In News  Asianet News   Mathrubhumi   Manorama News   Gulf News   Janam TV   MarunadanMalayali   Gulfmalayaly   Note: We are creating aWhatsApp group for the Kuwait Chapter of Pravasi Legal Cell, if anyone wants to be part of the Kuwait Chapter and its activities and also member of the whatsapp group, kindly let us know, we will add you to the group.  Dr. Raphel Vallachira   National Coordinator, Pravasi Legal Cell

Welcome to the inauguration ceremony of Pravasi Legal Cell Kuwait Chapter. The same is scheduled to be held on December 3, 2019 (Tomorrow) at 6. pm at Al Hamara Hotel Kuwait. H.E. Sheikh Douaig Khalifa Al Sabah, Consultant of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Europe Affairs Department, State of Kuwait will inaugurate the Pravasi Legal Cell Kuwait Chapter.

The Supreme Court Bar Association honoured Mr. Jose Abraham, Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India and President, Pravasi Legal Cell on the occasion of National Law Day. The appreciation was given for authoring the book “Right to Information: Key to Open Democracy”, published by Paideia Books, New Delhi with a foreword by Justice (retd.) K. G. Balakrishnan, Former Chief Justice of India. The Hon'ble Chief Justice of India, Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde awarded him with  a certificate of honour. Hon’ble Union Law Minister Sh. Ravi Shankar Prasad and Hon’ble Attorney General Sh.K. K. Venugopal were also present during the function.

Honourable Delhi High Court has issued notice to the Union of India on a petition challenging the derecognition of over 200 Indian organizations by the Indian Embassy in Kuwait.  The order was issued by Justice Chawla on a petition filed by Babu Francis, President, Overseas Nationalist Cultural People, Kuwait and Country Head, Pravasi Legal Cell, Kuwait, through Advocate Jose Abraham, President of Pravasi Legal Cell.  Please find a few reports in the media related to the same. Dr. Bins Sebastian  Secretary, Pravasi Legal Cell In News  Business Standard:   https://www.business-standard. com/article/pti-stories/plea- against-indian-embassy- decision-to-deregister-over- 200-associations-in-kuwait- 119102500817_1.html Outlook India:  https://www.outlookindia.com/ newsscroll/plea-against- indian-embassy-decision-to- deregister-over-200- associations-in-kuwait/1648784 Indians Kuwait:   https://www.indiansinkuwait. co...

Online RTI Portals: Centre and States should reply within Two Weeks, says SC   Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has put Two-Week deadline to the Centre and States to file its response after considering the PIL filed by Pravasi Legal Cell through its President Adv. Jose Abraham on establishing Online RTI Portals across India. The decision was taken by a bench of Justices N V Ramana, Sanjiv Khanna and Krishna Murari on the basis that the Central and State Governments did not submit a response within the stipulated time. Sharing a few news reports covered by media for the same I n News Live Law: https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/sc-seeks-govt-reply-on-plea-for-online-rti-portals-148914 The Times of India: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sc-seeks-govts-reply-on-plea-for-online-rti-portals/articleshow/71579439.cms Deccan Herald: https://www.deccanherald.com/national/online-portal-for-rti-sc-gives-4-more-weeks-to-govt-768241.html ...

Congratulations and Good Wishes to Mr.  Babu Francis  on being elected Country Head, Kuwait of Pravasi Legal Cell.

Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has issued notice to the Union of India and all state governments, on a Public Interest Litigation filed by Pravasi Legal Cell through its President Advocate Jose Abraham seeking direction for the creation of online RTI portals across the states. Presently, the Central Government and only a few states such as Maharashtra and Delhi have established online portals for the processing of request for information under the RTI Act, 2005. Most of the states have not complied with 2013 directive of the Ministry of Personnel and Training for the establishment of state level online RTI portals. Pravasi Legal Cell has been receiving numerous complaints across the globe stating that it is difficult for the Indian Emigrant to seek information under the RTI Act due to the absence of online RTI portals in the states. In fact, they were compelled to send applications through physical, which is time consuming and costly. There are also instances where the Public A...

Pravasi Legal Cell’s 10th Anniversary Celebrations were officially inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri V. Muraleedharan on 18 August 2019 at Ernakulam, Kerala. Mr. Hibi Eden, Member of Parliament was the Guest of Honour. Justice C. S. Rajan, former Judge, High Court of Kerala and Patron, PLC Kerala Chapter paid tribute to the late Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Former Minister of External Affairs of India.     On this day, the awards constituted in the memory of late Shri. A. M. Thomas, former High Commissioner & Union Minister in two categories (Social Service and Media) were given to Judge P. Mohanadas, Judicial Member, Kerala State Human Rights Commission and Abilash P. John, Senior News Producer, Manorama News by the Hon’ble MoS for the substantial contributions to the cause of Pravasi rights. Sharing a few photographs and the newspaper clippings of the same. In News  Business Standard ...