Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Mar 30: District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Poonch today organized a legal literacy programme in District Jail Poonch for acquainting the undertrial prisoners of their various legal rights.
The special emphasis in the programme was on “plea bargaining” which is an innovative concept in the criminal jurisprudence and is also included in the criminal procedure code. Various rights of the undertrials were discussed by the speakers, especially their right to have speedy trial and the various other rights to which they are entitled in the jail as well.
Principal District and Sessions Judge, Poonch, Tahir Khurshid Raina, was the chief guest on the occasion. In his address, Raina dealt with the subject in detail and also discussed the contours of ‘plea bargaining’.
While speaking on the occasion, Tahir Raina emphasized on prisoners to utilise their time in jail in sincere introspection and self analysis. He asked them to make their all endeavours in becoming a reformed and productive citizen so that when they get released, they prove to be boon for the society.
On the issue of undertrials’ right to speedy trial, Raina said that he and his team of judges are taking all steps to ensure the same. However, the serious cases like that of murder and rape inevitably require time for unfolding the truth and that can’t be avoided. He said “If justice delayed is justice denied” then at the same time “justice hurried is justice buried.”
Others who spoke on the occasion included Senior Superintendent of Police, Pandey, Chief Prosecuting Officer, Shaheen Khan, Public Prosecutor, Sessions Court, Poonch, Mukhtar Sheikh, Superintendent, District Jail, Poonch and Bar president, Taj Hussain Shah.
Proceedings of the programme were conducted by Secretary, DLSA Poonch, Wajhat Kazmi, District Mobile Magistrate, Poonch.
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