NALSA Launches Landmark Schemes On Human–wildlife Conflict And Support For Dependents Of Prisoners & Victims Of Crime At Southern Regional Conference In Kerala

 The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), in collaboration with the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA), today inaugurated the Southern Regional Conference on “Human–Wildlife Conflict & Co-existence: Legal and Policy Perspectives” at the Kerala Legislative Assembly Hall, Thiruvananthapuram. The two-day conference has brought together Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, senior officials from forest and disaster management departments, legal services institutions, and experts to deliberate on legal, policy, and community-based responses to the growing challenge of human–wildlife conflict.

The programme featured a series of addresses by eminent dignitaries. The Inaugural Address was delivered by Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Judge, Supreme Court of India & Executive Chairman, NALSA and the Keynote Address was delivered by Mr. Justice Vikram Nath, Judge, Supreme Court of India & Chairman, SCLSC. Addresses were also delivered by Mr. Justice M. M. Sundresh and Mrs. Justice B. V. Nagarathna, Judges of the Supreme Court of India. The event also saw the gracious presence of Mr. Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha, Mr. Justice Aravind Kumar, and Mr. Justice Sarasa Venkatanarayana Bhatti, Judges of the Supreme Court of India.

 Mr. Justice Nitin Jamdar, Chief Justice, High Court of Kerala & Patron-in-Chief, KeLSA also delivered an address. The Welcome Address of the event was delivered by  Mr. Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque, Judge, High Court of Kerala & Executive Chairman, KeLSA, followed by an address by Shri R. Venkataramani, Attorney General of India. The session concluded with a Vote of Thanks proposed by Mr. Justice C. S. Dias, Judge, High Court of Kerala.

As part of the inaugural programme, NALSA launched three major initiatives, along with dedicated videos to enhance public outreach. The NALSA Scheme on Access to Justice for Victims of Human–Wildlife Conflict (HWC), 2025 was unveiled as a pioneering framework to provide free legal aid, awareness, and timely assistance to affected families, while also promoting ecological balance and wildlife preservation – affirming that justice means coexistence by protecting people, safeguarding animals, and sustaining harmony with nature. This was followed by the launch of the Compendium on Human Wildlife Conflict, a first-of-its-kind digital resource compiling national and state-level schemes, guidelines, circulars, advisories, directives, judicial pronouncements and policy frameworks. NALSA also introduced NALSA SPRUHA (Supporting Potential and Resilience of the Unseen, Held-back and Affected) Scheme, 2025, a dedicated initiative for dependents of incarcerated persons and victims of crime, providing legal aid, counselling, reintegration, and livelihood support, embodying the principle that empowering the unseen and uplifting the unheard is central to ensuring access to justice for all.

In addition, the facility of e-filing and video-conferencing for Permanent Lok Adalats, the establishment of “Samanvaya” – Healing Centres in all 14 District Legal Services Authorities of Kerala, and the launch of dedicated websites for every DLSA were announced, further strengthening access to justice for citizens across the state.

Delivering the Inaugural Address, Mr. Justice Surya Kant emphasised that human–wildlife conflict is not merely an environmental concern but also a matter of justice and governance. He underscored that legal aid must reach vulnerable communities living at forest fringes and that ecological justice requires balancing human rights with conservation imperatives. Stressing the indivisibility of rights, he observed: “Justice cannot be permitted to operate selectively—neither in its substance nor in its application. Article 21, which enshrines the right to life and personal security, must be understood as extending also to the preservation of ecological conditions essential for the sustenance of that life.” Justice Surya Kant further highlighted the scope, applicability and alleviation mechanisms sought to be implemented by the human wildlife conflict scheme and the SPRUHA scheme.

In his Keynote Address, Mr. Justice Vikram Nath underlined the need for coherence in governance. Stressing regional cooperation and community participation, he noted: “Conflict and co-existence of humans and wildlife are not opposites, rather present possibilities that arise out of the choices we make.”

 Mrs. Justice B. V. Nagarathna observed that India has historically upheld a cultural ethos of coexistence with animals, maintaining a delicate balance between humans and nature. She cautioned against emerging human-centric trends, noting: “India has maintained the very precarious balance between humans and animals because of this inherent culture and belief that you have to share space with animals. However, recent trends appear that the trajectory is towards a human-centric approach and there is a disregard of a fundamental duty enshrined under Article 51(A)(g).”

 Mr. Justice M. M. Sundresh, in his address, invoked the words of Hubert Reeves to underline the urgency of environmental consciousness: “Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible God and destroys a visible Nature, unaware that this Nature he is destroying is the God he is worshipping.”

The Conference will continue on 31st August 2025 with six thematic sessions focusing on habitat loss, disaster management linkages, compensation frameworks, and tribal rights, reaffirming NALSA's commitment to take justice beyond courtrooms – reaching vulnerable communities, addressing emerging challenges, and fostering a future of coexistence, compassion, and inclusivity.