SHOPIAN: Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Justice Sanjeev Kumar, on Saturday chaired an awareness programme on the National Legal Services Authority’s (NALSA) SAMVAD Scheme at Imtiyaz Memorial Government Degree College, Shopian.
The programme, organised by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Shopian under the aegis of the J&K Legal Services Authority, focused on legal awareness and access to justice for tribal and other vulnerable communities.
Justice Kumar, who is also Executive Chairman of the J&K Legal Services Authority, highlighted the constitutional and legal rights of tribal communities and emphasised the role of Legal Services Authorities in providing legal aid at the grassroots level. He said the SAMVAD (Strengthening Access to Justice for Marginalised, Vulnerable Adivasis and Denotified/Nomadic Tribes) Scheme aims to improve access to legal services for tribal populations.
Principal District and Sessions Judge and DLSA Chairman Shopian, Mehmood Ahmad Chowdhary, stressed the importance of legal awareness and community outreach among tribal communities.
The programme was attended by MLA Shopian, the Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police Shopian, among other officials. A publication titled Sabeel, prepared by the DLSA Shopian, was also released on the occasion.
Officials said more than 2,000 members of tribal communities from different parts of the district participated in the event. Beneficiaries of various government welfare schemes were provided assistance on the spot, while achievers from tribal communities were felicitated.
Representatives of the Bar, tribal communities and various government departments also spoke on issues related to legal aid and implementation of welfare schemes.
Later, Justice Kumar and Registrar General M.K. Sharma inspected the newly constructed District Court Complex at Shopian and interacted with judicial officers and members of the Bar Association on matters related to legal aid and access to justice.
Several senior officers of the High Court and district administration were also present.
