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BUDGAM: The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Budgam, organized the chain of events under the leaderships of Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and Patron-in-Chief, J&K Legal Services Authority, Justice Arun Palli, and Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority, Justice Sanjeev Kumar.
The programmes were conducted under the directions of Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority, Shazia Tabassum and under the supervision of Chairman, District Legal Services Authority Budgam, O.P. Bhagat, and under the guidance of Secretary, DLSA Budgam, Nusrat Ali Hakak.
The objective of the events/programmes was to educate jail inmates about their legal rights and entitlements at various stages of the criminal justice process specifically during Pre-Arrest, Arrest, and Remand and to verify the status of sentence completion remission, Parole & release orders, record any instance of over incarceration etc.
DLSA Budgam had deputed its LADCās viz Lateef Ahmad Khan (Chief LADC), Nazir Ahmad Wagay (Deputy LADC), and Yawar Ali (Assistant LADC) to the central jail Srinagar who held discussions with the jail inmates and also covered essential legal aspects such as bail, parole, and furlough, with the aim of empowering prisoners to understand and assert their rights effectively. LADCs checked with the Jail authorities the status of the sentence completion etc. identified the UTPās for UTC and deliberated upon the assignments.
On the occasion, Chief LADC Budgam, elaborated on Access to Justice at the Pre-Arrest, Arrest, and Remand Stages, emphasizing the importance of seeking timely legal aid and assistance. He also discussed the concepts of parole and furlough, explaining their procedures and benefits for eligible inmates.
Deputy LADC Budgam, highlighted the legal rights of individuals during the pre-arrest, arrest, and remand stages. He focused on key aspects such as bail, detention, the right to legal representation, and provisions related to premature release, parole, and furlough of prisoners under the Prisoners Rules, 2022.
Assistant LADC Budgam, spoke on the procedures concerning premature release, parole, and the rights of under-trial prisoners. He also interacted with prison authorities and inmates, stressing the importance of adhering to the latest Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and ensuring that the legal and human rights of prisoners are duly protected.
They also discussed the NALSA (Access to Legal Aid Services to Prisoners and the Functioning of Prison Legal Aid Clinics) Scheme, 2022, highlighting the role of Jail Visiting Lawyers and Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) in ensuring effective implementation. It was emphasized that the Prison Legal Aid Clinics (PLACs) must ensure that every prisoner receives legal assistance to file and pursue appeals before the Courts within the prescribed time, thereby preventing the denial of the right to challenge convictions and sentences due to lack of legal representation.
The PLACs were also urged to ensure that no prisoner remains in custody beyond the sentence imposed by law. The awareness programme marked a significant step towards empowering jail inmates with knowledge of their legal rights and facilitating their access to justice.
The DLSA, Budgam, reiterated its commitment to providing legal aid and assistance to the marginalized and vulnerable sections of society, including prisoners. The authorities expressed confidence that such awareness initiatives will play a vital role in promoting the cause of justice and ensuring that the rights of under-trial prisoners are protected and upheld.
