Ranchi: The Centre for Labour Laws Research (CLLR), National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi, in collaboration with Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), successfully organized a Panel Discussion-cum-Workshop titled 'Labour Laws at the Crossroads – Reforming in a Changing Economy' under Project Nyay Setu today at the Reference Hall, NUSRL.

The event on Saturday ( May 30, 2026) brought together distinguished dignitaries, legal experts, government officials, academia, and Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) from Ranchi and Ramgarh districts to deliberate contemporary challenges in labour law, access to justice, and pre-litigation dispute resolution mechanisms.

Shri Abhishek Kumar, Deputy Secretary, Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA), highlighted the role of JHALSA in making justice accessible and affordable for marginalized communities. 

He emphasized that free legal services under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, extend to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, industrial workmen, women, children, and other disadvantaged groups. He stressed the critical importance of community mediation as a quick, effective, and cost-efficient mechanism for dispute resolution.

Shri Niraj Kumar Srivastava, Principal Secretary, Department of Law, Government of Jharkhand, appreciated NUSRL's role in connecting academic knowledge with social realities. 

He underscored the indispensable contribution of Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) introduced by NALSA in 2009 and called for greater emphasis on pre-litigation mechanisms to reduce the burden on courts and ensure timely justice.

Shri Siddharth Shankar Lal, General Manager, Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), delivered a compelling address on social responsibility embedded in education. 

Recounting his experience of witnessing an economically vulnerable litigant at a Hazaribagh court carefully untying his savings to pay his lawyer, Shri Lal powerfully underlined the urgency for accessible and humane dispute resolution mechanisms. He affirmed CCL's commitment to supporting innovative CSR-driven initiatives for marginalized communities and extended heartfelt best wishes for the success of Project Nyay Setu.

About Project Nyay Setu

Project Nyay Setu, spearheaded by CLLR-NUSRL in collaboration with CCL, aims to strengthen access to justice by creating meaningful connections between legal institutions and local communities. Through mediation camps, legal awareness drives, and outreach programmes, the project promotes legal literacy, early dispute resolution, and legal empowerment for vulnerable sections of society.

The workshop specifically aimed at building the capacity of PLVs from twelve blocks across Ranchi and Ramgarh districts, equipping them with practical knowledge of legal procedures, labour welfare laws, grievance redressal systems, and community outreach mechanisms. 

The discussion concluded with a collective commitment to expanding legal literacy, strengthening mediation, and ensuring that justice reaches those who need it most.