The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Srinagar today conducted an inspection of the Central Jail, Srinagar, and also oversaw the progress of the pan-India campaign for identifying juveniles in prisons and providing them with legal assistance. The inspection was held under the guidance of Chairman (PDJ) DLSA, Srinagar, Jawad Ahmed.
The inspection was led by Secretary DLSA Srinagar, Jahangir Ahmed Bakshi who was accompanied by officials, LADCs, female panel lawyer of DLSA Srinagar. The aim of the inspection was to assess the status of the identification process, ensure that juveniles are provided with timely and effective legal assistance, and address any challenges faced by the jail authorities in implementing the campaign.
During the jail visit, the DLSA team along with superintendent and prison staff took round off all the barracks and interacted with jail inmates including female inmates, listened to their grievances and received feedback for services provided to them by DLSA Srinagar. They also reviewed the existing infrastructure and facilities available to the jail inmates in the central jail, including access to education, healthcare and counseling services, etc.
The DLSA team also provided guidance and support to the jail authorities for effective implementation of the PAN India campaign and ensure that the rights of juvenile inmates are protected. They emphasized the importance of providing juveniles with access to legal representation, counseling, and other support services to help them navigate the criminal justice system.
The inspection concluded with a discussion between the DLSA team and the jail superintendent, where they discussed the findings of the inspection and assured that their genuine grievances shall be redressed on priority basis.
DLSA Srinagar is committed to ensure that juveniles as well as other jail inmates in prisons have access to justice and that their rights are upheld. The pan-India campaign for identifying juveniles in prisons and providing them with legal assistance is a crucial step in achieving this goal.