STATE TIMES NEWS
KATHUA: Justice Tashi Rabstan, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority (JKLSA) accompanied by Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Administrative Judge for District Kathua, Justice Rajesh Sekhri, Judge High Court of J&K and Ladakh and Amit Kumar Gupta, Member Secretary, JKLSA on Wednesday visited Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Basohli and inaugurated a Mega Legal Awareness Programme.
On their arrival, the Judges were warmly received by Ashok Kumar Shavan, Pr. District & Sessions Judge (Chairman DLSA) Kathua, Colonel (Retd.) Mahan Singh, Chairman, District Development Council, Kathua, Judicial officers.
Addressing a massive gathering, Justice Tashi said that the focus of LSA is to reach out to the poor and marginalized sections of the society and in this endeavor the DLSA has organized today’s programme to spread awareness amongst them about their rights and duties enshrined in the Constitution of India.
Tracing background about the enactment of Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, Justice Tashi informed the gathering that the same was enacted by the parliament to ensure that no citizen of this country is deprived of his/her legal and fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
Justice Tashi also said that the LSAs at all levels are working in tandem with various Govt. departments to ensure that the benefit of welfare schemes reaches to those who are entitled to the same. Justice Sanjeev Kumar in his Keynote address urged the officers of Civil Administration to ensure that the PLVs who approach them with the grievances of legal aid seekers are entertained.
Justice Rajesh Sekhri in his address recalled that he started his career as Judicial Officer from Tehsil Billawar thus has a special connect with this area. He further said that although India has topped the ranking having maximum population in the world yet majority of the citizens are illiterate and does not have the knowledge about their basic legal and fundamental rights.
Colonel Mahan Singh, (Retired) Chairman DDC, Kathua said that the people of Basholi are fortunate to welcome three High Court Judges in a single function which perhaps happened for the first time in the history of Basholi. During the program, the deserving beneficiaries of various welfare schemes were delivered keys of scooties, wheel chairs, old age pension payment orders, Ayushman Golden Cards and Marriage assistance relief through the Social Welfare Department.
The welcome address was presented by Ashok Kumar Shavan, Pr. District & Sessions Judge (Chairman, DLSA), Kathua, whereas, the vote of thanks was proposed by Puneet Kumari, Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsel, DLSA Kathua.
Later on, Justice Tashi along with Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Rajesh Sekhri inaugurated a Legal Care and Support Centre (Legal Aid Clinic) at Panchayat Ghar, Prehta Basholi.
While addressing the local populace, Justice Tashi urged them to take maximum benefit of the support center inaugurated today for getting their grievances redressed. He further stressed that the LSA has taken a pledge to fulfill the mandate of Constitution of India in providing easy, accessible and competent free legal aid in the UT of J&K.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar, son of the soil while address his native villagers said that the Legal Care and Support Centre established today shall prove to be a milestone in addressing the genuine legal grievances of the residents of village Prehta.
He also thanked Justice Tashi for addressing the long pending demand of establishment of such support center for the welfare of residents of village Prehta.