Today, September 27th, at Panchayat Ghar Prehta in Basohli, Justice Tashi Rabstan, Executive Chairman of the J&K Legal Services Authority, opened a new legal care and support facility.
An official news release states that Justice Tashi visited Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Basohli to launch a massive legal education initiative. The purpose of the trip was to make contact with people in the outlying regions of Kathua district. He was joined by Amit Kumar Gupta, Member Secretary of the J&K Legal Services Authority, and Justices Sanjeev Kumar, Administrative Judge for the District of Kathua, and Rajesh Sekhri, Judge of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh.
Principal District and Sessions Judge (Chairman DLSA) Ashok Kumar Shavan, Colonel (Retd.) Mahan Singh, Chairman, District Development Council, Kathua, Judicial officers, and officers of the Civil and Police Administration greeted the Judges as they arrived and presented them with a Guard of Honour as a show of respect.
Justice Tashi spoke to a large crowd at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Basohli, including representatives from PRIs, lawyers, advocates, LADCs, PLVs, community residents, and JNV employees. He explained that today’s event was planned by the District Legal Services Authority as part of the organization’s mission to educate underprivileged people about the protections and responsibilities guaranteed to them by the Constitution of India.
Justice Tashi gave the audience a historical context for the passage of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, explaining that the legislation was passed so that no person would be denied the legal and basic rights given to them by the Constitution.
Justice Tashi said that the government’s legal service agencies are coordinating with other government agencies to make sure eligible citizens get help from government programmes. He also emphasised the PLVs’ role as intermediaries between those seeking legal help and District Administration departments.
In his keynote address, Justice Sanjeev Kumar urged officers of Civil Administration to ensure that PLVs who approach them with the complaints of legal aid seekers are entertained, since PLVs are the frontline workers and the backbone of the Legal Services Institutions working for the poor and marginalised sections of society. In addition, he emphasised the need of the Legal Services Authority and the Executive Bodies working together to help the most vulnerable members of society.
In his keynote speech, Justice Rajesh Sekhri reflected on his roots in Tehsil Billawar, where he began his judicial career as a Judicial Officer. The majority of Indians are uneducated and unaware of their basic legal and fundamental rights, he said, even though the country has the largest population in the world. He lauded the J&K Legal Services Authority’s efforts to educate the public via events like Legal Awareness camps.
Colonel Mahan Singh, (Retired) Chairman of the DDC in Kathua, spoke at the event, noting that it is likely the first time in Basohli’s history that three High Court Judges have attended the same event. He went on to say that the people of Basohli are thrilled about the visit and hoping that their concerns will be addressed in earnest and that they will have access to the legal representation they need.
The Social Welfare Department distributed scooter and wheelchair keys, pension payment orders, Ayushman Golden Cards, and marriage assistance relief to eligible recipients at the event.
