With the aim to sensitize maximum number of people about the free legal aid facility, the Punjab State Legal Services Authority through all the District Legal Services Authorities has so far covered around 13000 villages for four times each in all the 23 districts of the state against the set target of three times under the “PAN India Awareness and Outreach Programme Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”.
Disclosing this here today, Arun Gupta, District & Sessions Judge-cum-Member Secretary, Punjab Legal Services Authority said that in commemoration of 75th year of independence and 25th year of Legal Aid Movement, a Nationwide Campaign “PAN India Awareness and Outreach Programme Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav- 2nd October to 14th November 2021” has been launched by the National Legal Services Authority, New Delhi.
“The endeavour is to reach out to all the villages, towns and cities of the State thrice, in addition to door to door campaigning so that the footprints of the existence of legal services could be left in each village, town and city”, he said, adding that the State Authority under the leadership of Judge, Punjab & Haryana High Court and Executive Chairman of the Authority Mr. Justice Ajay Tewari, in association with all the District Legal Services Authorities and various Punjab government departments, such as Department of Home Affairs & Justice, Department of Social Security and Women & Child Development, Department of Panchayat & Rural Development, Department of School Education, Department of Health & Family Welfare etc. has covered around 13000 villages for 4 times each in all the 23 districts of the State to educate and to sensitize the people of Punjab.
He said that under this National level campaign, the masses are to be made aware about the concept of Free Legal Aid, procedure for availing different legal services, empowerment of women including remedies against domestic abuse, various welfare schemes, policies of government including Victim Compensation Schemes, access to justice and legal remedies, procedure for filing complaints in police station, rights of person during arrest and detention, rights and entitlements of persons with disability, senior citizens, transgenders, SC/STs and other marginalized groups, rights of children including procedure for filing cases under POCSO, sensitization of stakeholders under the criminal justice administration with regard to the right of legal assistance and functioning of legal services Authorities and Alternative Dispute Redressal (ADR) Mechanism as well as the process to avail the same.
Member Secretary further said that a woman, child, any person in custody, specially-abled persons, SC/ST and any person having annual income of Rs. 3 lacs can avail the benefit of an advocate to be paid by the Authority under Section 12 of Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. The services can be availed for cases in all Courts, Commissions and Tribunals. Anyone can contact the authority through its Toll Free Number 1968.
