Justice Tashi Rabstan, Judge, High Court of J&K and Ladakh and Chairperson, Juvenile Justice Committee accompanied by Rajni Rabstan and Amit Kumar Gupta, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority, who is also holding the charge of Member Secretary, Juvenile Justice Committee, today visited District Jail Kathua, Palash (Home for Boys), Parisha (Home for Girls), One Stop Center/Shelter Home for women in distress and Home for the aged and infirm run by an NGO to take stock of the facilities being provided to the inmates there.
Principal District and Sessions Judge, Superintendent, District Jail Kathua, Deputy Superintendent of Police Headquarters and Secretary, DLSA Kathua besides others were present on the occasion. Justice Tashi was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour. He inspected various facilities available in the District Jail like Legal Aid Clinic, e-Mulakat center, VC facility, STD facility, Kitchen and dining area, 05 bedded dispensary and a dental Centre.
Justice Tashi also inspected the only female barrack and five male barracks and had an interaction with the inmates. He also enquired about their well being and progress of their cases. During interaction, inmates requested for providing them Legal Aid Counsel as the privately engaged counsels by them were not delivering as per their expectations. Considering their requests, Justice Tashi issued on the spot instructions to the Deputy Chief LADC Kathua to appear on behalf of Under trial whose Advocates fail to appear and conduct cases in the respective courts.
The inmates in the jail appreciated the jail staff for extending them quality services including proper diet and are being represented in their respective cases by the lawyers either engaged by them or provided by Legal Services Authority. Regarding availability of Medical facilities, Justice Tashi expressed satisfaction especially on learning that a medical officer is posted in the jail on full time basis.
Justice Tashi also interacted with Principal District Judge as well as Additional District Judge Samba through VC facility available in the jail. Later, Justice Tashi visited Palash (Home for Boys) and Parisha (Home for Girls) at Kathua where he was briefed by District Social Welfare Officer Kathua and Superintendents of both the homes about the services being extended to the beneficiaries there.
Justice Tashi also interacted with the children staying there to understand problems being faced by them. He appreciated the availability of infrastructure facilities like AC dormitories, Recreation Hall with big LED, Computer Lab, well maintained kitchen and dining hall, facility for indoor games, open gym etc., He also lauded efforts of Social Welfare Department in maintaining required standards of living and hoped that similar kind of facilities shall be provided in all the CCIs.
On the occasion, a Cultural programme was presented jointly by the inmates of Palash and Parisha. Lastly, certificates of participation were also distributed among the performers for their encouragement. Afterwards, Justice Tashi visited One Stop Centre/Shelter Home for Women in Distress and Home for the aged and infirm being run by an NGO, since 1995.
The said Home is having a capacity of 100 person, whereas, presently 30 old aged persons from all over India were putting up there. Justice Tashi also interacted with the persons residing in the old age home and enquired about the facilities being provided to them. He appreciated the efforts of civil society Kathua in extending helping hand to the Home. He urged upon the gathering present over there to come forward and help such type of Homes in taking up social service works.