There is a need is to ensure legal protection to the marginalised sections of society, including women and children, said National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) Executive Chairman and Supreme Court judge Justice U.U. Lalit at an event organised by the Kerala State Legal Service Authority (KELSA) in Thiruvananthapuram.
In his inaugural speech at the Legal Awareness Camp and Expo for the vulnerable sections of society, organised by KeLSA as part of the Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav, Justice Lalit said state legal services authority is bound to ensure legal aid to the weaker sections of the community, including women and children. He said: “Even though many programs have been conducted by the Union and State government for giving legal aid to the marginalised sections of the community, the results have not reached the beneficiaries as they were not aware of either the existence of the above schemes or the knowledge that they are eligible for the same as a right.”
Justice Lalit pointed out that Legal Services Authority is duty-bound to arrange facilities to ensure that legal aid activities reach eligible people through the Legal Services Institutions.
He said: “Services of the Legal Services Institutions shall reach every nook and corner of the State. Indian Constitution provides free legal aid to each and every eligible citizen. Hence, there should be programs for making the beneficiaries capacitated enough to avail the above benefits by providing awareness.”
Other dignitaries at the program were Justice K. Vinod Chandran, Executive Chairman, KELSA, Justice S.V. Bhatti, Portfolio Judge of Thiruvananthapuram, Justice Alexander Thomas, president, Board of Governors, KSMCC, Justice Mohamed Mustaque, Chairman, High Court Legal Services Committee, Advocate General, Additional Chief Secretary, DGP and State Police Chief, President Bar Association, Thiruvananthapuram.