MUMBAI, Oct. 27 -- For citizens seeking clarity on civic rights, redevelopment rights, or even guidance in drafting a will, the newly inaugurated Legal Resource Centre at Colaba offers a vital service. The Centre, launched as a pilot project, aims to make people aware of their legal rights and assist them in exercising those rights effectively. It will provide pro bono or free legal information to citizens, making justice more accessible. Seasoned lawyer Jamshed Mistry's International Legal Alliance, the Mumbai-based Jehani Legal and MML Advisory are the knowledge partners in the initiative which was conceptualised by the Lions Club District Legal Awareness Committee chairperson Jamshed Mistry and vice-chairperson Mubarakka Lokhandwala in collaboration with Subhash Motwani of the Clean and Heritage Colaba Residents Association (CHCRA), who provided his office and infrastructure for the centre. "One of the biggest problems today is that citizens, especially those from the lower echelons of society, don't get accurate legal information," Mistry told HT. "For example, if a person takes a flight and faces an issue, they may not know about the Consumer Protection Act or when to file a suit. Nobody really tells you about the options available or the Civil Procedure Code. If you do a generic Google search, you get all sorts of different combinations." Addressing the challenge of misinformation in the digital age, Mistry said, "With the advent of AI and ChatGPT, authenticity has become a real problem. So this is a great place where people can research and get authentic information. Abroad, one can walk into a legal library and get information of this nature, but in India, there is absolutely nothing." The advocate said that the project could be transformative if replicated across the city and the country. "Imagine a poor farmer who goes to a lawyer in a village and is made to wait," he said. "If this kind of information is available with the help of technology, at least they will have some basic knowledge about the remedies available." Motwani, CHRCA president, said, "Many people don't know where to go when dealing with issues involving the police or the BMC. A team of lawyers will advise and guide them," he said. He shared the plans for expanding the initiative and said, "In the coming months, we will set up an online chat facility on our website, where three legal organisations and CHCRA will be part of the initiative."...