Congress to build district-level legal network, announces major revamp of AICC Law Dept

In a major organisational overhaul, the Congress, on Wednesday, unveiled plans to expand its AICC Law, Human Rights and RTI Department down to the district level across the country, with at least five active coordinators to be appointed in every administrative district.

Briefing the media after a meeting of state panel lawyers and members of the department’s National Executive Panel, AICC Law, Human Rights and RTI Department chairman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the expansion was part of a larger organisational drive being led by party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. “The department is being activated at the grassroots. Every administrative district in the country will have a team of at least five prominent lawyers to coordinate activities and take up litigation on behalf of the party,” he said, adding that these district units would function as the Congress’ “eyes and ears on the ground”.

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Laying the roadmap for 2026, Singhvi also announced the creation of a ‘Rapid Response Force’ in each state, consisting of at least five senior lawyers, to swiftly address legal challenges and court cases involving the party at the state level.

The meeting, attended by senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid and 11 state chairpersons — both in person and virtually — also resolved to develop a comprehensive, computerised directory of department members from across the country. The directory will be organised state-wise and alphabetically to strengthen coordination and preserve institutional memory.

In a bid to widen outreach beyond the party’s traditional ranks, Singhvi said an internship programme would be launched for young people aged between 21 and 28 years who are not formally associated with the Congress. “Initially, one or two interns will be attached to each of the 127 Members of Parliament. The programme will subsequently be extended to the MLA level,” he said.

The measures reflect the Congress’ attempt to reinforce its legal, human rights and transparency framework in an increasingly litigious political climate, while also nurturing a new generation of legal professionals and activists committed to constitutional values and democratic rights.