Manjinder Singh, District & Sessions Judge-cum-Member Secretary, Punjab State Legal Services Authority, SAS Nagar visited Jyoti Sarup Kanya Ashram, Kharar and Prabh Asra, Padiala shelter homes. While interacting with the girls of Jyoti Sarup Kanya Ashram, he encouraged them to work hard on their studies to achieve their aims.
They were also apprised about free legal services being provided by Punjab State Legal Services Authority under Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. He divulged that although poor people having income less than three lacs are entitled for free legal services but women irrespective of their income can avail this facility.
During visit to Prabh Asra, the incharges were made aware about the rights of mentally sick and disabled persons and legal services to them under NALSA (Legal Services to the Mentally Ill and Mentally Disabled Persons) Scheme, 2015.
Thereafter he inspected District Jail, Rupnagar where inmates were interacted and educated about the concept of plea-bargaining, right to appeal and right to free legal aid. The undertrial who intended to seek legal aid were provided legal services at the spot and panel lawyers were appointed to contest their cases.
Besides this, he inspected the kitchen, food and other basic amenities being provided by jail authorities. The Jail Superintendent was directed to send the cases to DLSAs in which bail has been granted but undertrial has not been released even after 7 days from the date of order of bail as per directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. Sh. Baljinder Singh Maan and Ms. Himanshi, CJM-cum-Secretary, DLSA, SAS Nagar and Rupnagar respectively were also present during the visit.