Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 9: The District Legal Service Authority, Jammu, organised National Legal Service Day at the Janipura court complex here today.
It was attended by the district judiciary, lawyers, law students and litigants. On the occasion, the speakers dwelt at length upon various aspects of legal aid and legal services in India and its historical perspective.
The program was presided over by district judge Rajesh Sikri.
In his keynote address, he elaborately dealt with the provisions of Legal Services Authority Act, 1987 and stated that much needs to be done in order to achieve the goals of this scheme, ie providing justice to the people at door steps.
Shahzad Azim, president of district consumer forum, visualised the role of students and civil society in making poor and illiterate people aware of their rights and protections available to them.
CJM Sunit Gupta highlighted the role of PLVs and retainer lawyers.
He also spoke at length about the institutional mechanism under Legal Services Authority Act.
The proceedings were conducted by traffic magistrate Parvaiz Iqbal who highlighted the constitutional mandate behind this scheme and also the role of eminent jurists -- Justice P N Bhagwati and Justice Krishna Iyer -- in the development of this institution.
Others who spoke on the occasion includes special mobile magistrate Surjit Bali, forest magistrate Wamgyal Tsering and some lawyers.
A function was also held at Reasi under the chairmanship of S R Gandhi, chairman of District Legal Services Authority (Principal District and Sessions Judge, Reasi). On the occasion, a legal awareness camp and a lok adalat were held.
The camp was attended by S R Gandhi, Kamlesh Pandit, Sub-Judge Chief Judicial Magistrate (Chairman of Tehsil Legal Services Committee), Reasi, Jyoti Bhagat Munsiff JMIC Reasi, president of Bar Association, Reasi, and some other advocates.
Speaking on the occasion, Gandhi threw light on Right to Education Act and economically backward quota in public schools, Mental Health Act, NALSA scheme "Legal Services to Mentally ill Persons with Mental Disabilities".
He also made people aware about Lok Adalats, pre-litigation system and different schemes launched by NALSA and SLSA for the benefit of people and lauded the role of National Legal Services Authority and State Legal Services Authority for its efforts to provide justice on wheels at the door steps of litigants.
He assured the public to provide instant legal services to poor, senior citizens, women and children and mentally disabled persons.
Kamlesh Pandit, Jyoti Bhagat and some lawyers also spoke on the occasion.
On the occasion, a lok adalat was also held in which 60 cases were taken and 15 cases were decided. An award of Rs 9,59,000 was also passed.
A legal awareness camp was also held at Bhaderwah under the chairmanship of M K Sharma, Chairman District Legal Services Authority (Principal Distict and Sessions Judge) and Manoj Parihar, Chairman of Tehsil Legal Services Committee (Sub Judge, Bhaderwah).
O P Bhagat, Special Mobile Magistrate, Bhaderwah, Girja Shavan, Munsiff Bhaderwah, the senior prosecuting officer, litigants and police personnel were also present on the occasion.
Bhagat concluded the programme by apprising the gathering about the importance of Legal Services Day and the schemes offered under Legal Services Act. (JNF) |
