The Mumbai Unit, also known as the India Centre for Human Rights and Law, was established in 1997. One of the oldest units of the network, HRLN Mumbai has been attempting to respond to the community’s request to take legal aid work beyond litigation. In doing so, the centre sought to strengthen its litigation through documentation, campaigns, advocacy and networking. The team, comprising 25 lawyers, activists, researchers and support staff, provides legal aid and litigation support to marginalised sections of society.

The unit’s PILs, class action suits and litigations have resulted in protection of the rights of hawkers, disaster survivors, communal violence victims, malnourished children, women, tribals and others. The Criminal

Justice Initiative (CJI) has done particularly impressive work and is now recognised as a pioneer in providing legal aid to prison inmates. It serves as a model to follow for other units within HRLN and various groups outside our organisation. The CJI has also played a key role in training activists and lawyers in Gujarat to pay a critical role post–Gujarat communal violence. The team members have also been closely involved in the campaign for the implementation of the Sri Krishna Commission post the Mumbai communal riots of 1996.

Thanks to the close collaboration with the labour unions in the state, the unit has to its credit several landmark judgement championing the cause of labour rights, the judgement against contractualisation of the workforce and the judgement protecting the rights of saltpan workers being the most singificant order.