Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 26 2009:
Manipur state legal service authority has solved 2047 cases so far, out of 4974 cases registered, which is very low compared to other states, stated Th.Surbala, member secretary of Manipur state legal service authority at a press conference on Wednesday at Cheirap court conference hall, Imphal.
She informed that one can avail free legal service under the Manipur state legal service authority Act 12 without any legal fee.
This free legal service can be availed by women, people belonging to schedule caste and tribes, disabled persons, factory workers, psychiatric patients, orphans living in orphanage, victims of communal conflicts, disaster victims and people whose annual income is below Rs 25,000, said Surbala.
Manipur has only one permanent officer in the state legal service while all others are part-time employees, which makes it difficult for the state legal service to take up cases regularly and in good number, said the member secretary.
Manipur state legal services authority was formed in January 1998 with 10 members only and so far it has organized 93 public awareness programs and is trying to have hearing in the 'lok adalat' twice a month, said Surbala and gave the helpline number�9612872128 for the public which can be contacted 24 hours a day.