State Legal Services Authority, U.T., Chandigarh under the able guidance of Hon’ble Ms. Justice Ritu Bahri, Acting Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court-cum-Executive Chairperson, State Legal Services Authority, U.T., Chandigarh started National Legal Services Awareness Week to commemorate National Legal Services Day by organizing Legal Awareness Programme in collaboration with NMIMS, Chandigarh Campus and District Legal Services Authority, U.T., Chandigarh on 1st November, 2023 for law students in the auditorium of NMIMS, Chandigarh Campus.
The National Legal Services Day is celebrated on 9th November every year as on this very day, the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 came into force. The National Legal Services Awareness Week is being organized by State Legal Services Authority, U.T., Chandigarh from 1st to 9th November to promote access to justice for the marginalized, disadvantaged and weaker sections of the society as well as to celebrate the achievements of the workforce of the Legal Services Institutions in U.T., Chandigarh.
Sh. Surender Kumar, Additional District & Sessions Judge-cum-Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority, U.T., Chandigarh and Ms. Navjeet Klair, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, U.T., Chandigarh participated in the Legal Awareness Programme in NMIMS, Chandigarh Campus for law students of said University. The law students were motivated to work as Student Para Legal Volunteers to improve their clinical legal skills as well as to inculcate an attitude amongst them to provide effective legal services to the poor and marginalized people of U.T., Chandigarh. Sh. Surender Kumar, Member Secretary, SLSA, U.T., Chandigarh discussed the various provisions of Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, working of State Legal Services Authority, provisions of POCSO Act etc. in the inaugural session. The students were motivated to work as flag bearers to create awareness amongst the masses so that the opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities. The students were also exhorted to visit nearby villages and conduct legal awareness programme in order to promote settlement of disputes through alternative disputes resolution mechanism such as Mediation, Lok Adalats, Conciliation etc. In this way the students would be exposed to community services. Ms. Navjeet Klair, Secretary, DLSA, U.T., Chandigarh also addressed the law students and laid emphasis on the provisions of protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, constitution of Anti-Ragging Cells in Colleges and Universities, working of District Legal Services Authority, U.T., Chandigarh etc.
A Capacity Building Programme was also organized for law students who are willing and dedicated to work as Para Legal Volunteers in the Legal Aid Clinic set up in the NMIMS, Chandigarh Campus to ensure access to justice to the nearby people living in village Sarangpur etc. The students were explained about the provisions regarding registration of First Information Report/lodging of the cases, trial of the cases in Criminal Courts and the role of various Agencies in Criminal Justice System working in this country. The provisions regarding Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, 2013, various Welfare Schemes of Chandigarh Administration, functioning of Permanent Lok Adalat (Public Utility Services), etc. were also discussed in the Capacity Building Programme. The law students were also motivated to work as a bridge between common people and Legal Services Institutions, Chandigarh and to extend a helping hand to the needy people by creating legal awareness and redress their problems with the help of Legal Services Institutions. Professor (Dr.) Jaskiran Kaur, Director, NMIMS, Chandigarh Campus and Dr. Mita Chaddha, Associate Professor-cum-Convenor, Legal Aid Clinic, NMIMS, Chandigarh Campus also addressed the students and motivated them to remain proactive in legal aid activities to increase their legal knowledge and skills as it would help them in their future law profession.
The State Legal Services Authority, U.T., Chandigarh also conducted a programme for senior citizens in EWS Colony, Maloya by sending a Mobile Van with a team of Para Legal Volunteers, staff of SLSA and representative of Social Welfare Department to create awareness about the various provisions of Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
