Job Opportunity: Para Legal At Railway Claims Tribunal
Table of Contents
- Role purpose
- Eligibility
- Key responsibilities
- Application process
- Engagement terms
- Ideal candidate profile
- Why this matters
- How to apply effectively
- Quick reference
Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT), Mumbai Bench has invited applications from practicing lawyers to serve as Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) for a new Free Legal Aid Cell at the Bench, to assist eligible claimants with preparation, filing, and prosecution of cases free of cost.
Role purpose
The Free Legal Aid Cell will ensure that accident victims, dependents, and other eligible persons approaching the RCT Mumbai Bench receive end-to-end legal assistance, including guidance on documentation, limitation, drafting of claim applications, and representation support, thereby improving access to justice under the Railway Claims framework.
The initiative complements legal aid standards and PLV engagement practices under legal services authorities, adapting them to the tribunal’s specialized mandate and procedures at the Mumbai Bench.
Eligibility
- Open to practicing lawyers with at least three years’ experience at the Bar within the jurisdictional courts of the Mumbai region, specifically: RCT Mumbai Bench, City Civil Courts/Mumbai, the Hon’ble Bombay High Court, MACT Courts, and other courts falling under RCT Mumbai’s jurisdictional ambit.
- Applicants should be conversant with tribunal procedures, limitation for railway claims, documentation requirements, and victim‑centric assistance in a quasi‑judicial setting.
Key responsibilities
- Provide front‑desk legal assistance at the Free Legal Aid Cell for first‑time filers and eligible persons, including preliminary case assessment and guidance on filing under relevant provisions and rules.
- Assist with drafting claims, affidavits, annexures, and basic pleadings; help organize evidence (tickets, medical documents, FIR/panchanama, station records) and ensure completeness for registry scrutiny.
- Support litigants during hearings by explaining cause‑list processes, directions, and compliance requirements, and by coordinating with registry for filings and certified copies as needed.
- Maintain basic records of assistance provided to facilitate monitoring and reporting to the Additional Registrar/Bench administration.
Application process
- Mode: Submit applications in the prescribed format to the Additional Registrar, Railway Claims Tribunal, Mumbai Bench; the vacancy listing appears under “Legal Aid Cell” on the RCT benches notices page dated 07/11/2025.
- Bench address and contacts: RCT Mumbai Bench, 180, P. D’Mello Road, 19‑T, “WIGWAM”, Mumbai‑400001; office phone 022‑22623916/22623719 per bench contact directory; address should be confirmed on the active notice before dispatch.
Engagement terms
- PLV empanelment will be governed by the Bench’s legal aid guidelines, with orientation on tribunal procedures; empanelment does not create an employer‑employee relationship and may be honorarium‑based per legal aid norms, if specified.
- Experience criteria of three years at the Bar is ordinarily mandatory for legal aid panels and PLVs to ensure baseline competency and readiness for front‑line advisory functions.
Ideal candidate profile
- Practitioners with hands‑on experience before RCT, MACT, or allied claims forums, comfortable with evidentiary assembly and limitation computation for passenger accident/untoward incident claims.
- Strong client‑handling and documentation skills, with the ability to simplify procedures for first‑time litigants and maintain an empathetic, service‑oriented approach consistent with legal aid objectives.
Why this matters
- Specialized legal aid at the tribunal level reduces procedural barriers for vulnerable claimants, accelerates filings, and improves the quality of claims, which can influence timelines and outcomes.
- The PLV model has proven effective nationally in bridging access to justice; adapting it for RCT Mumbai is a significant step towards standardizing legal aid in sectoral tribunals.
How to apply effectively
- Attach a brief profile highlighting tribunal/civil claim experience, two sample matter summaries (de‑identified), and familiarity with railway claims documentation checklists to demonstrate practical fit.
- Include bar council enrollment details, court practice domains, and references, and ensure updated contact information for quick empanelment communication by the Bench.
Quick reference
- Recruiting bench: Railway Claims Tribunal, Mumbai Bench.
- Post: Para Legal Volunteers for Free Legal Aid Cell.
- Eligibility: Practicing lawyers within RCT Mumbai jurisdiction with 3+ years’ Bar experience.
- Apply to: Additional Registrar, RCT Mumbai Bench; see benches notices and confirm address/contacts before submission.
Official Notifiation: https://claims.indianrail.gov.in/WEBCLAIMS_DOCUMENTS_UPLOADED/RCT/NOTICE/20251128001_Notification%20for%20Legal%20Aid%20Cell.pdf
