49 Legal Services Clinics in Himachal Pradesh were inaugurated today through Video Conferencing

Vijyender Sharma
SHIMLA---------  49 Legal Services Clinics in Himachal Pradesh were inaugurated today through Video Conferencing by Justice P. Sathasivam, Chief Justice of India and Patron-in-Chief, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) at a programme held in the Supreme Court of India for establishing Legal Aid Clinics, in all villages or for a cluster of villages, for imparting legal aid, especially to people facing geographical, social barriers for access to legal service institutions.

            Inaugurating 2648 Legal Aid Clinics across the country from the Supreme Court of India, including 49 in Himachal Pradesh, the Chief Justice of India said that Paralegal volunteer and Panel/Retainer Lawyers are the backbone of legal services clinics. He said that it is a historic step to bring justice to the doorsteps of people in the hinterlands of the country.  Justice R.M. Lodha, Judge, Supreme Court of India & Executive Chairman, NALSA asked District Legal Services Authorities across the country to conduct a field survey to identify people in need of legal services, which also includes helping people in availing benefits of various social welfare schemes of the government like making Job card under MNREGA, assisting in inclusion of name in BPL list among others.

            At a programme held in the High Court of H.P., the Acting Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir, Patron-in-Chief of the H.P. State Legal Services Authority said that opening of legal aid clinics is bound to fulfill the motto of the State Legal Services Authority i.e. Access of Justice to all. Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice D.C. Chaudhary were also present at the programme held on this occasion in the High Court of H.P.

            The programme was held under the auspices of National Legal Services Authority and H.P. State Legal Services Authority, Shimla for setting up one legal services clinic in one village in each Taluk (Sub-division) throughout the country. Two trained Paralegal volunteer and Panel/Retainer Lawyer are assigned to each clinic. In H.P., 49 Villages in 47 Sub-Divisions have been selected by the H.P. State Legal Services Authority for setting up of Legal Aid Clinics.

            With this, the number of total Legal Services Clinics functional in the State of H.P. has reached 430. Before this, 381 Legal Services Clinics were already functional in the State. The first legal aid clinic in the State was set up at Village Mangoo near Subathu, Tehsil Arki, District Solan on June 30, 2012.

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**VijyenderSharma*, Press Correspondent Bohan Dehra Road  JAWALAMUKHI-176031, Kangra HP(INDIA)*
 
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