Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that many central laws which were not applicable in J&K before 2019 are now applicable in the Union territory.
Sinha made these assertions while addressing the North Zone Regional Conference on “Reaffirming the Constitutional Vision of Justice for Defence Personnel and Tribals: Bridging the Gaps” organised by National Legal Services Authority, High Court of J&K and Ladakh and J&K Legal Services Authority, at Srinagar.
According to an official press release, the event was attended by Supreme Court of India judge and Executive Chairman National Legal Services Authority, Justice Surya Kant; Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal; Chief Justice High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh, Justice Arun Palli; Chief Minister Omar Abdullah; High Court of J&K and Ladakh judge and Executive Chairman J&K Legal Services Authority, Justice Sanjeev Kumar; Executive Chairperson Ladakh Legal Services Authority, Justice Sindhu Sharma; General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt. General Pratik Sharma; judges of Supreme Court of India and Chief Justices of various States and UTs.
In his address, the LG extended his felicitations to the legal luminaries, officials of National Legal Services Authority (NLSA), High Court of J&K and Ladakh, J&K Legal Services Authority and everyone associated with the conference. He also paid tributes to the fallen soldiers of Kargil War.
“Constitution of India guarantees Justice, social, economic and political and one of the facets of providing Justice is access to justice to all the citizens and it is to be ensured that justice reaches to the poorest of poor, who deserves it the most.
“The justice system has been deeply rooted in the soul of India and played a pivotal role in the nation’s progress. In our culture, the court is not merely an office of justice but a sacred temple of justice, dedicated to ensuring equal justice and access to the legal system for all, without discrimination,” the LG said.
The LG called upon the State Legal Services Authorities to ensure that all possible legal aid reaches the army personnel, tribal community, deprived and vulnerable sections of society on time so that their lives become easier and their rights granted by the Constitution are protected.
The LG highlighted “key structural reforms taken in the past few years to establish social and economic justice in Jammu & Kashmir”.
The LG observed that before 2019, various central laws, including two important central legislations, namely the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 were not applicable to J&K.
“Now, these laws have become applicable and the tribal community has been empowered. We are extending all constitutional guarantees and protections to the members of the tribal population, including access to justice by providing free and competent legal aid to them,” he said.
The LG also spoke on the major initiatives taken by the J&K administration to ensure ease of justice to the members of Armed Forces and reiterated its commitment to provide legal aid to the tribal community.
“Amendment has been made in J&K Legal Services Authority, Rules 2020 to include Secretary, Zila Sainik Board as a member of the District Legal Services Authority to provide legal aid to soldiers. Furthermore, Lieutenant Governor’s Sainik Sahayta Kendra has been established and it is a dedicated institutional mechanism for facilitating the redressal of civilian grievances faced by soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces, who are posted in the J&K, or who belong to the UT and are presently serving in other parts of the country,” the LG said.
The LG emphasised that delay in justice means defeat of moral duties of legal services authorities at the grassroots level involved in helping the deprived and vulnerable sections.
“I am confident that in this important conference, along with solutions to the challenges being faced at the district level, the necessary interventions to make the common citizens aware of their rights under the Constitution will also be discussed,” the LG further said,
On the occasion, NALSA Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana 2025, a dedicated legal services scheme for defence personnel, ex-servicemen and their families, was launched. The scheme provides for establishing legal services clinics within Rajya and Zila Sainik Boards for rendering legal services and assistance to Veer Parivar.
The event also witnessed the launch of various initiatives including Defence Personnel Case Management System; Special Samvad Legal Units for tribal communities; Legal Services support centres at Rajya Sainik Boards of all states and UTs and Zila Sainik Welfare Boards across the Districts of UT of J&K and Ladakh; Unveiling of Logo and Tribal kiosks at Leh airport; Mobile medical camp for tribal population of Ladakh.
Certificates of engagement as Para legal volunteers by Legal Services Authorities of J&K and Ladakh were also handed over to Veer Naris and ex-servicemen.
