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Kupwara : In continuation of its statutory mandate to ensure effective access to justice, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Kupwara, through its Legal Aid Defense Counsel (LADC) system, deputed a team comprising Deputy Chief LADC Mr. Akhter Rasool Dar and Ms. Nuzhat Ul Amin, along with Assistant LADC Ms. Kulsum Salam, to conduct an official visit to District Jail Kupwara.
The visit was undertaken to assess the availability, accessibility, and effectiveness of free legal aid services being extended to the inmates and to evaluate the overall status of access to justice within the jail. During the course of the visit, the team interacted with prisoners, particularly undertrial inmates, and carried out a review of cases to identify individuals requiring immediate legal assistance.
The inmates were sensitized about their legal and constitutional rights, including the right to free legal aid, the right to a fair and speedy trial, the right to legal representation, and the right to be treated with dignity and in accordance with due process of law. The team also apprised the inmates of the provisions of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, emphasizing that persons in custody are entitled to free and competent legal representation through the Legal Services Institutions.
The LADC team addressed various grievances raised by the inmates, including issues relating to delay in trial, lack of legal representation, and other ancillary legal concerns. Necessary assurances were extended for providing prompt legal assistance in deserving cases, in accordance with law.
The visit further aimed at strengthening the mechanism of legal aid delivery within custodial institutions and ensuring that no inmate is deprived of access to justice on account of economic or social disadvantage. The District Legal Services Authority Kupwara remains committed to upholding the constitutional mandate of equal justice and providing effective legal services to all sections of society, particularly the marginalized and vulnerable.
