PORT BLAIR, NOV 26: The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) is committed to provide free and competent legal service to the weaker sections of the society to ensure that justice is not denied for reasons of economic or other disabilities, said Justice Asit Kumar Dey, District and Sessions Judge, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, at a function held on Wednesday in the Multipurpose Hall of Delanipur to mark the National Law Day, the day on which the Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly in 1949. The Judicial Magistrate, JMFC Additional Court, Justice Sunil Kumar Sharma, Councillor, Ward no. 3, Mr K Ganeshan and a huge gathering of Delanipur and Buniyadabad residents attended the function.
At the legal awareness camp, Justice Dey said that such camps are intended to spread legal awareness and provide legal aid to poor and needy sections of the society. “The Legal Services Authority Act 1987 provides free legal aid to the underprivileged and the law seeks to uphold the constitutional right to equality for all law,” he informed urging the population to approach the DLSA to avail legal assistance.
On Lok Adalats, the District and Sessions Judge informed that to dispose of pending cases in various Courts of the country, Dec 6, 2014 will be observed as All India National Lok Adalat Day. From the Supreme Court of India to lower Courts in taluk level, Lok Adalats will be held to settle a range of cases. Lok Adalats are an effective platform to dispose of cases in pre-litigation stages through mutual consensus of parties involved. Such quick disposal of cases saves precious money and time of the public. Moreover, the decisions taken in the Lok Adalats are final and can’t be challenged in any Court of the country, he said.
The Judicial Magistrate, JMFC Additional Court, Justice Sunil Kumar Sharma said that the under the Legal Services Authorities Act, free legal services is provided to citizens if he/she is not capable of bearing the expenditure. “Men with an annual income of not more than 1 lakh can avail free legal aid from DLSA, while the service is available free of cost for women and members from the SC and ST community.” He also dwelt on other provisions of law and services offered by DLSA.
Welcoming the gathering, the Councillor, Ward no. 3, Mr K Ganeshan said that National Law Day marks the anniversary of the drafting of the constitution by the constituent assembly in 1949. Thirty years later, the Supreme Court Bar Association declared 26 November National Law Day. Members from the legal fraternity celebrate the day to honour the 207 eminent members of the Constituent Assembly who are considered the founding fathers of the Constitution of India.
