To mark the National Legal Services Authority Day which is held every year on November 9th , a function was organized under the Chairmanship of Principal District and Sessions Judge, Sanjay Dhar who is also Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority, Kathua.The function was also attended by Deputy Commissioner Kathua Ramesh Kumar, Additional District and Sessions Judge Kathua Suresh Chander Katal, Chief Judicial Magistrate Deepak Sethi and Special Mobile Magistrate Kathua Nashad Ahmed Khan. The members of Bar and office bearers including Bar President, Kathua Arvind Kumar Gupta, large number of litigant, public besides PLV’s were also present.The proceedings of the function were conducted by District Judicial Mobile Magistrate Kathua Dinesh Gupta.
On the occasion Retainer Lawyer Sourav Mahajan informed about the creation of Legal Services Authority from article 39-A of the Constitution of India and further apprised the gathering about the different categories entitled for the legal aid which includes weaker sections of the society and specially abled persons. He informed that the income group with income less than Rs 25,000 also entitled for legal aid.Retainer Lawyer Sunita Devi also apprised the gathering about the guidelines and importance of legal aid day and generating awareness among the people .Special Mobile Magistrate Naushad Ahmed Khan stressed upon the need to educate women, parents, public and relatives regarding provisions of section 488 CrPC and Domestic Violence Act.
DC Kathua, Ramesh Kumar threw light on the importance of knowledge about the legal rights and need to educate people so that their interests can be safe guarded .Chairman, District Legal Services Authority Kathua Sanjay Dhar in his address highlighted the creation of Legal Services Authority in J&K and establishment of 12 different legal aid clinics in different parts of district Kathua. Dhar further exhorted upon the need to make people aware about their legal. He also stressed to sensitize people about various welfare programmes so that they can avail their benefits. In addition to this he also stressed upon need to train Retainer Advocates and Para Legal Volunteers (PLV’s) regarding the Act’s beneficial to public at large. He further stressed that duties of the legal services authority also includes giving help to persons suffering from calamities and educate people regarding centrally sponsored schemes i.e MGNREGA etc. A Lok Adalat was held in the District Courts Complex, Kathua in which two benches were constituted and cases pertaining to Civil Nature, Motor Accident Claims, petty offences including traffic Challans etc were disposed off.Vote of thanks was presented by the President Bar Association Kathua