The inauguration marks the rollout of a pilot project conceived by the Bihar State Legal Services Authority (BLSA) to provide a single point of contact for crime victims, streamlining the identification of entitlements and ensuring that relief is pursued to completion.
The centre, described as a ‘gateway’ for victims, will maintain a case record so that complainants need not repeat their testimony at multiple agencies. Internal timelines will hold the centre accountable, and a case will be closed only when relief is secured and verified, or when the victim decides to close it.
Guidance for the centre comes from a steering committee chaired by a Patna High Court judge, with Justice Ajeet Kumar appointed as its first chairman. The project was approved under the direction of Justice V. Kameswar Rao, Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, and Justice Sudhir Singh, Executive Chairman of BLSA.
Alongside the centre, a dedicated transgender helpline will be launched, operating under BLSA’s 2023 scheme that implements the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. The helpline will assist transgender individuals with identity certificates and access to housing, employment, health, and welfare benefits.
Chief Justice Kant will also release a BLSA publication prepared by advocate Shama Sinha, which outlines the centre’s scheme, standard operating procedures, and the forms used to document each stage of a victim’s case.
The pilot will run in Patna for twelve months. Following an evaluation, the model may be extended to other districts through their respective District Legal Services Authorities, potentially creating a nationwide framework for victim assistance.