Online jail legal aid clinic opened
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 16 2021:
Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) has launched an online jail legal aid clinic for two central jails of the state on Monday.
The online jail legal aid clinic was opened by Manipur High Court chief justice and MSLSA patron-in-chief PV Sanjay Kumar in the presence of justices Lanusungkum Jamir, Kh Nobin, MV Muralidaran and A Bimol, chief secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar, ADGP (prisons) P Dongel, court registrar general, district and sessions judge Imphal East, Secretary (law), special secretary (home) and judicial officers.
MSLSA executive chairman and high court of Manipur judge Kh Nobin said that the online jail legal aid clinic was opened to enable prisoners enjoy their entitled rights amidst COVID-19 pandemic.
Both the central jails of the state have one each legal aid clinic but the pandemic hampered its proper functioning and hence opened the online legal aid clinic for the convenience of prisoners.
Chief justice PV Sanjay Kumar, in his speech, said that the on line legal aid clinic was opened as part of the campaign launched by MSLSA for enabling prisoners to access legal assistance and other facilities.
He also pointed out that it is necessary for taking up welfare measures for prisoners so that discrimination against them could be ended and allow them to live with dignity.
ADGP (prison) P Dongel said that the jail legal aid clinic was functioning properly earlier with jail PLV shouldering responsibility but COVID-19 pandemic hampered movement of PLV.
As per the existing COVID-19 protocol, inmates are talking with PLV, their families and lawyers through online, he added.