Activist-lawyer fights for the poor

New Delhi: Sitting in his chamber at the Delhi high court and addressing the problems of the downtrodden, advocate-cum-activist, Mr Ashok Agarwal could be referred to as the messiah of the capital’s deprived section of society. Known as the “PIL Man” within the legal fraternity, Mr. Agarwal has fought several battles for the poor and the powerless. Talking to this correspondent, he recounts his struggle over the years.

Mr Agarwal said that his social work does not affect his practice. It is a misconception that a lawyer’s social work comes in the way of their private practice. “It gives us the opportunity to make more contacts, which is the backbone of this profession,” he said.

Asked about what prompted him to fight for the weaker sections of the society, Mr Agarwal said that his father, who was a trade union leader, was his inspiration.

Mr Agarwal became a lawyer in 1976 and formally started fighting cases for labourers. Slowly and gradually, his struggle for free medical treatment and free education reached the Delhi high court and the Supreme court working.

He noticed in the early stages, when the Public Interest litigation (PIL) came to the courts, it was being used against the working class and the poor. He realised that this potent weapon (PIL) could be used for their benefit.

His two major achievements include successful cases, the petitions of which were filed in 2002, regarding the admission of the economically weaker section (EWS) category to private schools and free medical treatment at private hospitals.

He has also filed a PIL on the issue of fee hikes in schools and felt satisfied when in 1998 the court ordered 531 private schools to return excess fees to parents.

Mr Agarwal said a petition was filed recently in the Delhi high court for extending the benefit of enhanced minimum wages for around 65 lakh workers. 

The fight for the abolition of the practice, where small children and their parents are subjected to a painful interview for admission to nursery, is another milestone for him in the struggle against injustice. This fight began in 1993 and is still continuing.

Talking about school and hospital management, Mr Agarwal said that they did not show any interest in extending benefits to deserving candidates and the government takes least interest to ensure its implementation.

Mr Agarwal said that it is a privilege to work for the downtrodden. He adds that media has played a great role in creating awareness about his fight.