The District legal Services Authority (DLSA) Srinagar in collaboration with the Law Society, School of Law, University of Kashmir today organized a day-long programme to celebrate the ‘National Legal Services Day-2022’, here.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Beauty Banday, Head and Dean, School of Law, University briefed the participants on how the National Legal Services Day celebrates the tremendous work done by thousands of individuals to carry out the mandate of article 39A of the Indian Constitution.
Prof. Mohd. Ayub, former Head & Dean and Professor, School of Law spoke about how legal aid and its various facets find its roots in international conventions and how the same has been recognized in the Indian Constitution as well.
He said that civilized societies always come to the rescue of weaker and disadvantaged sections of society which are given free and competent legal aid. This was followed by a play ‘Gulaal’ performed by the students of School of Law Theatre Society.
The play focused on the issue of drug abuse in our society and the role played by legal services authorities in addressing this problem. Speaking on the occasion, Fozia Paul, Secretary, DLSA, Srinagar, with Additional charge of Budgam and the Guest of Honour for the event emphasized on the role of Legal Services Authority in giving free and competent legal aid to the marginalized and disadvantaged sections of society.
She also made the audience aware about the ongoing legal awareness campaign all over India to celebrate National Legal Services Day today. Moreover, she threw light on the extent of substance abuse in the UT of J&K and the need for creating more effective mechanisms to deal with the same.
She also pointed out how districts Srinagar and Budgam are focal zones of the “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan” and also spoke about the important work done by various legal services authorities in the UT of J&K towards fulfilling the objectives of article 39A of the Indian Constitution and the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987.
This was followed by felicitation of participants by the dignitaries. The event was followed by a rally taken out by the students of School of Law, University of Kashmir, all the dignitaries and the staff of DLSA wherein banners and placards were used to make the general public aware about the scope of free and competent legal aid.