Following the directions of Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court and Executive Chairman, Punjab State Legal Services Authority, a legal awareness programme was organized at Chandigarh University, Gharuan. Sh. Manjinder Singh, Member Secretary, Punjab State Legal Services Authority, SAS Nagar educated the law students about free legal services being provided under Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
He further enlightened them that a poor person having income less than 3.00 lakh per year shall be entitled for free legal services. Certain other categories like members of scheduled caste or tribe, victims of mass disaster, industrial workman, woman, child or a person in custody irrespective of their income are also entitled for free legal services.
He further said that the meaning of free legal aid is not restricted to appointment of Legal Aid Advocate only, rather it includes payment of all miscellaneous expenses like drafting charges, court fee, process fee, diet money of witnesses etc. So, if a person who is entitled for free legal services as per the criteria given in Section 12 of the Act approaches any legal services authority, he/she would be provided all expenses of litigation besides the services of a panel lawyer.
Sh. Baljinder Singh Maan, CJM-cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, SAS Nagar sensitised the students regarding grant of compensation under Punjab Victim Compensation Schemes, 2017 and NALSA’s Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/ Survivor of Sexual Assault/other Crimes-2018.
He further described where the accused is unidentified or untraceable but the victim is identified, compensation can be granted to the victim under Victim Compensation Schemes. It was also mentioned that in suitable cases where the court makes recommendations as per provisions of Sub-Section (2) and (3) of Section 357A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, compensation is granted.
The students were also educated about the provisions of interim compensation for child victims under the POCSO Act.