CHANDIGARH: The Punjab State Legal Services Authority has celebrated the Legal Services Day by organizing a Legal Awareness Programme at Chandigarh University, Gharuan under the "PAN India Awareness and Outreach Programme-Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
During the program, Arun Gupta, District & Sessions Judge-cum-Member Secretary, Punjab State Legal Services Authority, R.S. Rai, District & Sessions Judge-cum-Chairperson, DLSA, SAS Nagar, Dr. Mandeep Mittal, Additional District & Sessions Judge-cum-Additional Member Secretary and Baljinder Singh Maan, CJM-cum-Secretary, DLSA, SAS Nagar addressed the students and made them aware about the concept of "Free Legal Aid" under the provisions of Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
Arun Gupta, District & Sessions Judge-cum-Member Secretary said that 9th November is celebrated as Legal Services Day because Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 came into effect on this day in 1996. He apprised the audience that under Section-12 of Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, a woman, child, any person in custody, specially-abled persons, SC/ST and any person having annual income of Rs.3.00 lacs can get an advocate and his fee is paid by the Authority.
He further said that under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ajay Tewari, Judge Punjab & Haryana High Court and Executive Chairman, Punjab State Legal Services Authority, the State Authority has provided compensation to different victims of crime to the tune of Rs.4.00 crore in this year. The victims of rape, acid attack, burning, motor accident and victims under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 are provided compensation through 22 District Legal Services Authorities having their offices in the District Court premises. He also threw important floodlight on various welfare schemes, rights of persons at Pre-arrest, Arrest and remand stage. He also sensitized the audience about the process of mediation and the benefits of Lok Adalat and apprised that National Lok Adalat is being held on 11.12.2021.
R.S. Rai, District & Sessions Judge-cum-Chairperson, DLSA, SAS Nagar motivated the students to work as vectors of change and appreciated the students who covered large number of villages by offering their free services to make the people aware during this campaign.
Apart from this, Dr. Mandeep Mittal, Additional District & Sessions Judge-cum-Additional Member Secretary and Sh. Baljinder Singh Maan, CJM-cum-Secretary, DLSA, SAS Nagar also encouraged the students to learn about the legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 and to become the torch-bearer of legal Services Institutions in the society. Anyone can contact the authority through its Toll Free Number 1968, he added.