SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority (JKLSA), under the guidance of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), on Saturday organised a mega awareness programme on “Empowering Women and Strengthening Institutional Legal Support” at SKICC, Srinagar.
The programme was attended by Justice Vikram Nath, Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman of NALSA; Justice S. V. N. Bhatti, Supervising Judge for JKLSA; Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Chairman of JKLSA; and Justice Sanjay Dhar, Chairperson of the High Court Legal Services Committee, among other judges and dignitaries.
The event was conceived as a common institutional platform to enhance awareness about the legal rights of women and girl children and strengthen coordination among legal services institutions, police, health, education, social welfare departments, One Stop Centres, Child Welfare Committees and other agencies responsible for protection, legal aid, compensation, rehabilitation and follow-up support.
In his presidential address, Justice Vikram Nath said the effectiveness of legal services institutions must be measured by whether a person in distress can approach the system without fear, be heard with dignity and receive timely and competent assistance. He stressed the need for stronger legal literacy, institutional coordination and grassroots outreach to ensure that constitutional and statutory safeguards become a practical reality for women and children.
He also called for the proceedings and recommendations of the conference to be translated into local languages and circulated among stakeholders to ensure effective implementation at the grassroots level.
Justice S. V. N. Bhatti highlighted the importance of functional grievance redressal mechanisms, trained stakeholders and victim-sensitive procedures. He observed that women and children should not be forced to navigate fragmented systems or repeatedly recount traumatic experiences before multiple authorities, stressing the need for confidentiality, accountability and clear referral mechanisms.
Delivering the inaugural address, Justice Sanjeev Kumar emphasized that access to justice cannot be judged solely by the existence of laws and institutions. He called for stronger grassroots outreach through legal aid clinics, front offices, panel lawyers and para-legal volunteers so that people in need are guided to appropriate remedies without procedural difficulties.
Recalling the role played by the J&K Legal Services Authority after the devastating 2005 earthquake, he highlighted how judicial officers conducted Lok Adalats in affected areas and facilitated on-the-spot settlement of compensation and insurance claims, demonstrating a responsive and humanitarian approach to justice delivery.
Justice Sanjay Dhar said that recognition of rights in law is only the first step and that true justice lies in ensuring those rights can be understood, accessed and effectively enforced. He stressed that prompt assistance, confidentiality, sensitivity and institutional follow-up are essential to prevent secondary victimisation and restore confidence in the justice system.
During the programme, the dignitaries released “Endeavour-2025”, the annual newsletter-cum-compendium documenting legal services activities and initiatives undertaken across Jammu and Kashmir during 2025.
The dignitaries also flagged off multi-utility vehicles for District Legal Services Authorities across Kashmir, aimed at strengthening mobile legal services and extending legal awareness and aid to remote and underserved areas.
The programme featured two technical sessions. The first session, chaired by Justice Vikram Nath and co-chaired by Justice S. V. N. Bhatti, focused on women’s rights, legal empowerment and access to justice. Discussions covered the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, with emphasis on workplace safety, child-friendly procedures, reproductive rights, privacy and access to legal remedies.
The second session, chaired by Justice Sindhu Sharma and co-chaired by Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi, focused on institutional support and victim assistance mechanisms for women in distress. Discussions highlighted the need for coordinated responses involving legal services institutions, police, healthcare providers and welfare agencies.
The session also examined emerging challenges such as cyberstalking, impersonation, online blackmail, misuse of images and other forms of technology-enabled abuse, stressing prompt reporting, preservation of digital evidence and victim-sensitive handling of complaints.
The event was attended by judges of the High Court, former judges, judicial officers, representatives of civil and police administration, academicians and officials from various government departments and institutions.
