*Presides over Conference of DLSAs
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 21: The J&K Legal Services Authority under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) organized the State Conference of District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) of UTs of J&K and Ladakh at Judicial Academy here.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna, senior most Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA presided over the conference in the presence of Justice N Kotiswar Singh, Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh and Patron-in Chief, J&K and Ladakh Legal Services Authorities.
Justice Tashi Rabstan, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority along with Justice Atul Sreedharan, Executive Chairman, Ladakh Legal Services Authority and Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Chairperson, Governing Committee J&K Judicial Academy were the guests of honour.
Other Judges of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh who were also present physically and virtually include Justice Sindhu Sharma, Justice Rajnesh Oswal, Justice V C Koul, Justice Sanjay Dhar, Justice Puneet Gupta, Justice Javed Iqbal Wani, Justice Mohammad Akram Chowdhary, Justice Rahul Bharti, Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi, Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, Justice Rajesh Sekhri and Justice Mohd. Yousuf Wani.
The conference was split into two sessions. The first session focused on interaction of Justice Khanna with the Judges of High Court and district judiciary of UT of J&K and Ladakh and the second session dealt with the working of Legal Services Institutions in the UTs of J&K and Ladakh.
In his presidential address, Justice Khanna highlighted the role of district judiciary in coming to the rescue of poor litigants as they are the first point of contact to them for resolution of their issues and have direct connect with people at the grass root level. He further said that there is a misconception in the district judiciary regarding their powers in upholding the constitutional rights of a citizen.
Justice Khanna emphasized that confidence reposed by the society in the Indian Judicial system is only because of fair and impartial approach adopted by the judges of district judiciary while dispensing justice which needs to be strengthened further. Commenting upon the working of legal services institutions, Justice Khanna said that no-where in the world, such a robust system exists where to prosecute a case and to defend the same, lawyers on Government expense are provided to both the litigating parties, which is a unique feature in India.
Justice N Kotiswar Singh, in his address, said that Justice Khanna’s compassion for the jail inmates can be gauged from that fact that a couple of days ago, he visited the Central Jail, Srinagar not only to take stock of their living conditions but also to interact with them in order to understand the issues confronting them with regard to legal aid schemes and their benefits.
Jusitce Tashi Rabstan in his address gave an overview of the working of legal services institutions in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir. Justice Atul Sreedharan proposed vote of thanks.
Those who attended the program include Y P Bourney, Director J&K Judicial Academy, M K Sharma Principal Secretary to Chief Justice, Harshita Mishra OSD to Executive Chairman NALSA, officers of High Court Registry, Judges of district judiciary, trainee Judges, LADCs, Penal Lawyers, PLVs, staff of J&K Legal Services Authority, DLSA, Srinagar and J&K Judicial Academy.
Shahzad Azeem, Registrar General conducted the proceedings during the first session whereas Amit Kumar Gupta, Member Secretary, J&K Legal services Authority conducted the proceedings of second session.
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