JALANDHAR .
Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Ravi Shankar Jha and Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia on Thursday virtually inaugurated the Legal Aid Defense Counsel System in ADR centre, judicial complex.
On the occasion, Justice Arun Palli and Justice Harpreet Kaur Jeevan, Judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court and Member Secretary, Punjab State Legal Services Authority Manjinder Singh, District, and Secessions Judge-cum Chairman District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Nirbhow Singh Gill and CJM-cum-Secretary DLSA Dr. Gagandeep Kaur along with the counsels were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, who is also Executive Chairman of Punjab State Legal Services Authority, said that Legal Aid Defense Counsels were appointed at DLSA Jalandhar to provide speedy justice. He further disclosed that in criminal cases, to defend the cases of the accused, one legal aid defense counsel, three deputy legal aid defense counsels, and four assistant legal aid defense counsels were already appointed.
District and Sessions Judge Nirbhow Singh Gill who is Chairman of DLSA, said that Legal Aid Defense Counsels Scheme – 2022 would be beneficial to the undertrials/convicts and the office of these Legal Aid Defense Counsels has been set up at ADR Centre Jalandhar. He further disclosed that under the Legal Services Authorities Act – 1987 in complaint cases, matrimonial disputes, MACT, and other Civil Cases, the Panel Advocates will handle the same. All the eligible persons like women, children persons belonging to SC, and ST categories, and any person whose income is less than R s3 Lakh per annum can benefit from free legal services.
CJM-cum-DLSA Secretary Gagandeep Kaur informed that the cases are being disposed of through mediation and Lok Adalats. Further, she said that compensation was also being provided by DLSA to rape victims, victims under the POCSO Act, Acid Attack Victims, and in accidental cases where the accused is untraced. Any person can contact on toll-free no. 1968.