NLU Delhi P39A invites Call for applications for ‘Interns’ ; Apply by May 10, 2022

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – INTERNS

The National Law University, Delhi (‘University’) through Project 39A is seeking to remotely engage, on a contractual basis, interns for managing the written communications in Marathi, Panjabi, Gujarati and Malayalam, with prisoners represented by Project 39A, primarily those sentenced to death. The contract will be for one year initially and can be extended on an annual basis at the discretion of the University.

ABOUT PROJECT 39A: Project 39A draws inspiration from Article 39-A in the Indian Constitution on equal justice and signals the broadening of our work on the criminal justice system in India. We undertake litigation, research and communications relating to forensics, torture, legal aid, mental health and death penalty (for more information, visit www.project39a.com).

AREA OF WORK: The litigation team at Project 39A provides pro bono legal representation to prisoners on death row. For effective legal representation, it is a key to regularly communicate with the clients. The litigation team at Project 39A also believes in keeping prisoners updated about the progress of their case and also involves family members in the preparation of the case. The team also engages with the prisoners in a manner which could assist them in making their prison life more productive. For all these reasons, the team regularly exchanges letters with the clients in the regional languages they understand along with sharing reading materials of their interest. This internship program is looking for interns proficient in at least one of the regional languages listed in the ‘Eligibility’ section.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. The interns will study basic case materials and prior correspondence with the respective prisoners and their families. Under the supervision of Project 39A litigation and mitigation associates, interns will draft personalized letters to prisoners regularly, in their respective languages.
2. To accompany the letters, the interns will identify suitable reading material in the respective regional language for each client.
3. The interns will provide translations of the letters received from the clients into English language.
4. Any other tasks that may be necessary to further the aims of Project 39A’s communication program with prisoners or any other work.

ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Students of law, humanities, social sciences, social work, management or media enrolled in bachelor’s or master’s programs.
2. Reading and writing proficiency in at least one of the following regional languages, along with English:

   1) Marathi
   2) Panjabi
   3) Gujarati

   4) Malayalam

DURATION & PLACE OF INTERNSHIP: Minimum 1 year internship period. The internship can be undertaken remotely.

INTERNSHIP STIPEND: A small stipend will be provided which may vary subject to case allocation per language. Payment will be released on a six monthly basis.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Interested persons must fill the online form available here in the link https://www.project39a.com/internship-april-2022 and upload three documents:

1. Resumé
2. A statement of purpose of not more than 500 words explaining your interest in this internship. The statement should clearly state the candidate’s proficiency in at least one of the regional languages mentioned in the eligibility criteria.
3. Translation of the Annexure-I, an excerpt from the Deathworthy 2021 report in at least one of the regional languages listed in the eligibility criteria i.e. Marathi, Panjabi, Gujarati and Malayalam.

APPLICATION TIMELINE: Last date to submit the application is 10th May 2022.

Shortlisted candidates will be intimated by 13th May 2022 and further rounds of assessment and interview will take place on 14th and 15th May, 2022. Only applicants selected for interview rounds will be informed.

NOTE:

1. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted via email. If you do not hear from us within 3 weeks after the deadline, please assume that your application has not succeeded. Unfortunately, we cannot reply to individual queries about the status of applications.
2. National Law University, Delhi reserves the right not to fill these internship positions.
3. National Law University, Delhi is an equal opportunity employer and Project 39A works

   on behalf of all prisoners sentenced to death, regardless of the offence involved.

4. National Law University, Delhi reserves the right to conduct additional rounds of

   interviews or written tests.

5. This internship programme is supported by grants received by Project 39A.

ANNEXURE – I

URVI lived with his parents until the 4th grade. Being the oldest, Urvi had to take care of his siblings from a very young age. His mother was ill for much of this time, and was unable to take care of them. Urvi’s father would come home drunk, and would beat his wife and children. Urvi was physically and verbally abused by both his parents. He faced a similar environment of fear and punishment in school, leading him to lose interest in studies very early. He failed the third grade twice, and left for his grandparents’ house who lived near a jungle and were traditional heal – ers. He felt safe around his grandpar – ents, but would face disapproval from his parents when he met them. His mother kept her distance from him and wouldn’t allow anyone to eat from the utensils he’d touched. Being raised away from home, he also became estranged from his brothers. At his parent’s house, Urvi faced the familiar abusive family en – vironment and ran away multiple times, and was once caught by the police. When he was taken home, his father and uncle beat him and did not feed him for at least a day. He ran away again, but was unsuccessful living on his own. In prison, Urvi fears for his life. He believes the co-accused in the case want to hurt him and only after he was kept separate from them did his worry subside a little. He also worries about his children and fervently looks for – ward to their visits. At the time of the interview, he mentioned that his eldest child had gotten engaged; a bittersweet event for him. He says he is only living for his children, and is waiting for them to get married, so that they have their own families and can move on and eventually forget him. Urvi was diagnosed with Major Depres – sive Disorder and Generalised Anxiety Disorder

MAHADEV grew up in a conflict-ridden household with an alcoholic father who would often abuse Mahadev and his mother, verbally and physically. The abuse was so bad at times that his mother had to be admitted to the hospital for treatment. When he was nine months old and wouldn’t stop crying, his father, in a fit of anger, threw him in a water drum. His mother was the one who paid for Mahadev and his sister’s education. He blames his father’s drinking problem for the chaotic environment at his home throughout his childhood. He felt cheated when his uncle, on the promise of admitting him into a school, took him away from his house and made him work at the shop the entire day. He abused him with a hot ladle, the marks of which are still present on Mahadev’s body. Whenever he watches family drama movies in prison, he cries bitterly as he misses his grandparents a lot. They are unable to travel the long distance due to old age. He is heartbroken as his family has burnt all of his photographs out of fear and humiliation after they saw how the media covered the crime. Mahadev finds it difficult to build a rapport with most of the inmates. He thinks that they are not honest with him, that they say nice things in front of him but he doesn’t trust them to say the same things about him in his absence. Mahadev was diagnosed with Substance Use Disorder.

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