Legal service should reach everyone : Justice Mridul
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 09 2023: Asserting that legal service institutions should reach out to marginalized and disadvantaged sections of society, Justice Siddharth Mridul, Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur has called for expansion of scope of legal services to reach everyone who requires legal assistance.

The Chief Justice made the remark during the observance of Legal Services Day cum Commendation Ceremony 2023 organised by the Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) today at 3.30 pm at the Conference Hall, ADR Building, Lamphel Court Complex, Imphal, said a statement issued by Alek Muivah, Member Secretary, MASLSA.

Legal service should reach everyone : Justice Mridul

The programme was graced by Justice Siddharth Mridul as chief guest and Justice A Bimol Singh, Judge, Manipur High Court and Executive Chairman, MASLSA; Justice A Guneshwar Sharma, Judge, Manipur High Court and Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu, Judge, Manipur High Court as guests of honour respectively.

The event was organised with the objective to promote access to justice and to celebrate the achievements of the workforce of the legal service institutions.

Delivering the inaugural speech, Justice Siddharth Mridul recalled the steps taken by the Delhi High Court under his executive chairmanship of Delhi State Legal Services Authority where, by judicial order, Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs) were posted in all 250 police stations round the clock so as to assist parents of missing children.

The Supreme Court further extended the scope of service to cases of sexual violence against minors.

In the case of Manipur, Justice Mridul vouched for implementation of the direction of the Supreme Court for deployment of PLVs in all police stations of the State.

In addition, he proposed the scope be further expanded to accommodate all those persons who are summoned by the police and persons who approach the police station for registering FIR.

In all cases, the PLVs will inform the person concerned of their legal rights.

Thus, legal aid can be extended even in cases of pre-arrest stage, said the Chief Justice.

Justice A Bimol Singh highlighted the achievements of the legal functionaries for 2023 by stating that 237 people from marginalized sections of society availed legal aid counsel for their cases.

Further, 15,329 individuals availed legal counselling through different legal aid clinics and front offices.

Under Alternative Dispute Resolution Centres, 96 different cases were successfully resolved while 691 cases were settled in National Lok Adalat with a total settlement amount of Rs 8.74 crore.

Moreover, the offices of MASLSA and DLSAs organized 511 programmes on various legal topics through community participation, TV, radio, social media etc.

The office of MASLSA was able to open 304 Special Legal Aid & Services Clinics at various relief camps where 456 PLVs were appointed to man the clinics.

So far, through the assistance of panel advocates and PLVs, 3864 FIRs have been registered for the victims of recent violence.

The PLVs are not only spreading legal awareness and highlighting various schemes for the victims but are also assisting in reconstruction of lost documents such as educational certificates, Aadhar card, voter ID, job card etc, shared Justice A Bimol Singh.

Since the notification of Manipur Compensation Scheme for Women Victims 2023 on September 14 by the State Government, the office of MASLSA has awarded compensation to 36 women victims amounting to Rs 41.45 lakhs, he added.

During the programme, B Bihari Sharma (94), retired UDC, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by Justice Siddharth Mridul in recognition of his exemplary services rendered as a functionary of MASLSA for 32 long years.

Other awards were also handed out during the event, including, 'State Best Panel Lawyer' conferred to Moirangthem Urmila Devi; 'State Best Mediator' award to Potshangbam Tolen Christian; 'State Best PLV' to Ch Nabachandra Singh; 'State Best Student PLV' to A Shashikumar and 'State Best Legal Aid Clinic' award to Legal Aid Clinic, DC Complex, Porompat.

The awardees were presented with mementos, certificates and cash prizes.

The district level best panel lawyers, PLVs and legal aid clinics were also felicitated by handing over certificate and cash award.

The programme was attended chairpersons and secretaries of District Legal Services Authorities; Registrar (Judl), High Court of Manipur, Commissioner (Law), Govt of Manipur, Judicial Officers, nominated members of MASLSA, panel advocates, mediators, PLVs, media persons, officers and staff of legal services authorities and High Court of Manipur.