Interaction cum legal awareness programme held at Central Jail
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 21 2025: The Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) in association with High Court Legal Services Committee (HCLSC), High Court of Manipur organised an Interaction cum Legal Awareness Programme on the topic, "Legal RightsoftheConvictedPersons" atManipur Central Jail, Sajiwa.

The programme was attended by Justice A Bimol Singh, Executive Chairman, MASLSA; Justice A Guneshwar Sharma, Judge, High Court of Manipur & Chairman, HCLSC; Alek Muivah, Member Secretary, MASLSA; Athokpam Shanta Devi, Secretary, HCLSC; Syed Abdul Samad, Superintendent of Police, Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa; H Balkrishna Singh, Joint Secretary (Home), and other officers from the Home Department Speaking on the occasion, Justice A Bimol Singh stated that as per the direction of Justice Surya Kant, Chairman, Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, a special campaign is being carried out for identification of convicted prisoners who are willing & entitled to avail free legal aid for filing of appeal against their conviction order before the High Court as well as Supreme Court of India.

He said that those convicts who have already appealed before the High Court but whose application have been rejected may also come forward again to avail free legal services for further course of action.

Justice A Guneshwar Sharma mentioned that during the campaign conducted by the' Panel Lawyers of High Court Legal Services Committee, they have identified 58 convicts who have not yet filed their appeal before the High Court of Manipur.

"HCLSC have already provided legal aid for filing appeals to 20 convicts and the remaining 38 convicts will also be provided with Panel Lawyers for filing appeal shortly", he added.

He also explained to the convicted inmates that in case any remission application has been rejected previously, HCLSC will be providing free legal services if the applicant wants to avail free legal aid to file an appeal before the High Court.

Alek Muivah highlighted the various legal rights of the convicts such as Appeal, Suspension, Remission, etc .

S Mangaleibi Devi, Deputy Member Secretary, MASLSA elaborated on the various factors that are taken into consideration for grant of remission to the convicted person, such as potential of the convict to commit crimes in the future, fruitful purpose of continued incarceration, convict's age, state of health, familial relationships, possibility of reintegration, etc .

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