Prisoners' Human Rights Awareness and Legal Outreach Program at Cooch Behar District Court

16-05-2026

The Indian Institute of Legal Studies organized an outreach program under the supervision of Ms. Upasana Bishnu on the subject of Human Rights. The outreach program was conducted by the students of B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) 8th Semester on the theme “An Analytical Study on Human Rights of Prisoners as a Vulnerable Group: Legal Protection, Challenges and Reformative Measures in Cooch Behar District.” The program was conducted at Cooch Behar District Court on 14th May 2026.

The main purpose of the outreach program was to gain practical knowledge regarding the condition and protection of prisoners’ human rights and to understand the legal and administrative mechanisms available for their welfare. The study focused on identifying the major challenges faced by prisoners, understanding the importance of video conferencing in judicial proceedings, examining the legal protections available for safeguarding prisoners’ rights, and collecting suggestions from the concerned authorities regarding effective protection of such rights. The program also aimed to understand the viewpoints of advocates regarding the protection and reformative measures for prisoners in the criminal justice system.

Through interaction with legal professionals and court authorities, the outreach program provided valuable practical exposure to the students regarding the realities of prisoners’ rights and the functioning of the justice delivery system in relation to vulnerable groups.