LEH: Aiming for making justice accessible to the people of Ladakh, Ladakh Legal Services Authority has opened Legal Aid Defense Counsel offices in both Leh and Kargil.
The offices were inaugurated by Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Judge High Court of J & K and Ladakh and Executive Chairman of Ladakh Legal Services Authority over the weekend.
The Legal aid defense counsel system is adopted by NALSA for providing free legal aid in criminal matters on the lines of public defender system on pilot basis and for strengthening and making legal services more professional.
On Sunday, Justice Kumar inaugurated the Office of Legal Aid Defense Counsel Leh at District Court Complex Leh.
Spalzes Angmo, Member Secretary Ladakh Legal Services Authority, Yash Paul Sharma, Chairman District Legal Services Authority Leh and Principal District & Sessions Judge Leh, Fayaz Ahmad Sheikh Secretary Law and Justice UT Ladakh, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse DC Leh and P D Nitya SSP Leh were present at the occasion.
Justice Kumar emphasized that access to justice is a fundamental right of every citizen and establishment of Legal Aid Defense Counsel Office, meant for providing free legal aid to needy accused, would go on far to achieve the said constitutional goal.
“At the same time, the right of victim cannot be ignored, thus UT of Ladakh has rolled out Ladakh Victim Assistance Scheme, 2022, in terms of which monetary compensation can be given to a victim of certain crimes,” he said, while interacting with the Judicial Officers, Legal Aid Defense Counsel, APPs, Members of the Bar, DLSA Staff and PLVs.
He also announced grant of interim compensation of Rupees Two Lakh to a victim of POCSO Act case.
Justice Kumar handed-over engagement orders to both the Legal Aid Defense Counsel and inspected the office of Legal Aid Defense Counsel, before planting an apple sapling within the compound of the Court.
Earlier on Saturday, Justice Kumar inaugurated the Office of the Legal Aid Defense Counsel at District Court Complex Kargil. Among others, Iqbal Ahmad Masoudi, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Kargil and Chairman District Legal Services Authority, Kargil was also present on the occasion.
In his address, Justice Kumar stressed upon the smooth deliverance of legal aid to the deserving litigants and directed District Administration to cooperate with the District Judiciary for smooth deliverance of justice in the region.
Here also, he handed over engagement orders to the newly appointed Legal Aid Defense Counsel and assured to give an interim victim compensation of Rs 2 lakh under head Ladakh Victim Compensation Scheme 2022 to the victim of Crime belonging to Zanskar which is a remote area of Kargil district.
Further, Justice Kumar held a meeting with members of the District Bar Association Kargil led by the president Reyaz Ahmad Khan along with Judicial Officers at District Court Complex Kargil. The Lordship also addressed the Judicial Officers regarding Disposal of the cases which are pending for adjudication.
