Kupwara, July 8: The Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Justice N Kotiswar Singh on Saturday inaugurated Legal Aid Clinics at Tangdhar and Teetwal and interacted with bar members, students and civil adminstration.
Prof (Dr) Vijay lakshmi Barara, Principal Secretary to Hon’ble Chief Justice Mr M K Sharma, District and Sessions Judge Kupwara (Chairperson, DLSA Kupwara) Shazia Tabasum; Deputy Commisioner Kupwara, Ayushi Sudan; Principal Government Degree College Kupwara, Prof. Haroon Rashid, SSP Kupwara, Yougal Manhas; Civil Judge/Munsiff, Tangdhar Court, Faizan I Nazar; DDC Memeber Karnah, Adv. Najma Hamid, ADC Kupwara, Gh. Nabi Bhat; BDC Teetwal, Nishada Parveen, SDM Tangdhar, Dr. Gulzar Ahmad Rather; DIO Kupwara, Mudasser Sikander; Senior Prosecuting officer Karnah, Khalid Mushtaq; President Bar association, Qazi Mehboob Illahi, Members of Bar association Karnah and local PRIs and officers of Tehsil adminstration were present at the inauguration functions of legal aid clinics held at Government Degree College Tangdhar and Teetwal.
In his presidential address, Justice N Kotiswar Singh invoked the Preamble of the Constitution which calls for securing justice for all citizens to highlight the importance of providing free legal aid to vast sections of people “who are still unaware of their legal rights and privileges”.
Judiciary has to play important role apart from adjudication, that is legal awareness.
Judiciary has to ensure that people’s rights are not being trampled upon and dignity of the individuals is respected. Hon’ble Chief justice underscored the importance of legal aid clinics in enhancing the people’s access to justice.
“Legal aid clinics are one of the important ways to fulfill our Constitutional pledge of ensuring access to justice for one and all,” he said.
Chief Justice said that PLVs are foot soldiers and can play important role in making legal aid clinics more vibrant and effective by going to grassroots for legal awareness among the people to increase their access to justice.
“Legal aid clinics are one of the important ways to fulfill our Constitutional pledge of ensuring access to justice for one and all,” he said while adding that “Our responsibility is to help those who are in need of help”.
While congratulating District adminstration Kupwara, Chief Justice said that “I am happy to note that developement has taken place in Tangdhar and Teetwal. Rich history and contribution of Karnah residents are immense, though there are some difficulties, but by co-operation and coordination we can over come these difficulties.
At Government degree college Kupwara, Chief Justice interacted with students and received their feedback regarding judicial system and their intrest in judiciary.
Civil Judge/Munsiff, Tangdhar, Faizan I Nazar presented conducted the proceedings of programme. President Bar Association Tangdhar presented welcome address at Degree college Tangdhar.
District & Sessions Judge Kupwara delivering the welcome address at the inaugration function at Teetwal said that Legal aid clinics are bridging the gap of justice, empowering the people by giving awareness about legal rights and social justice to marginalised sections of society.
While complimenting the role played by the Chief Justice She said that ” Hon’ble Chief Justice has brought innovations in judiciary.
She thanked Chief Justice for visiting Kupwara district especially Tangdhar and Teetwal.
DC Kupwara while expressing gratitude on behalf of civil adminstration and people of Kupwara district thanked Chief Justice N. Kotishwar Singh for visiting Karnah said that it is a land mark event in the history of Karnah sub division that for the first time any Chief Justice has visited this far-off area and interacted with bar and people of the area.
The Deputy Commisioner Kupwara presenting the developement profile of the district said that Kupwara district has been chosen in Aspirational District plan in the country and improving different parameters and Thematic areas.
Civil Judge/Munsiff Tangdhar proposed the vote of thanks at teetwal.
Hon’ble Chief Justice also visited District jail Kupwara where he interacted with undertrials and prisons and passed slew of directions for expediting their trials and appeals respectively.
