Excelsior Correspondent
Bhadarwah, June 10: In a bid to protect the rights of prisoners and address their grievances, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) inaugurated a Legal Aid Clinic at District Jail here.
For the first time in Doda district, legal aid services will be provided to prisoners within the jail itself.
“Many persons accused of petty offences languish in jails for inordinate periods of time as they are unaware of the process of filing appeals. Some prisoners from other cities have no one to file bail and other applications for them. These are some cases in which the clinic will prove to be very useful”, said Principal District and Session Judge Bhaderwah Ashok Kumar Shavan.
The clinic also intends to look into matters of maltreatment of prisoners, and ensure that prisoners with medical problems are provided with proper facilities, he said.
The setting up of the clinic within the premises of the jail itself has many advantages. Not only will it make it easier for the jailed to avail legal counsel, it also reduces complications and safety issues involved in ferrying prisoners back and forth between the prison and legal aid cells located outside the jail.
The Legal Aid Clinic, which was inaugurated by Bhadarwah Principal District and Sessions Judge Ashok Kumar Shavan, will function Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm.
It will be manned by retainer lawyers as well as trained paralegal volunteers.
Other dignitaries who were present during the inauguration of the Legal Aid Clinic include Secretary DLSA Sub Judge Sushil Singh, ADC Rakesh Kumar, SDPO Aadil Rishu, Retainer Lawyer Mohammad Majid Malik and Superintendent District Jail Bhadarwah Surinder Singh.
The DLSA and other officers also visited different barracks, hospital and Kitchen of the district jail and also talked to inmates to enquire about their well being.
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