District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Srinagar, in collaboration with DLSA Budgam, under the aegis of the J&K Legal Services Authority, conducted an awareness programme on Legal Rights at Central Jail Srinagar.
The programme aimed at educating inmates on their legal rights, including access to free legal aid, the right to a fair trial, and legal provisions under the Criminal Justice Act and the Indian Constitution.
The programme was held under the guidance of Jaffer Hussain Beg, Chairman of the DLSA/Principal District & Sessions Judge Srinagar, & Om Prakash Baghat, Chairman DLSA Budgam/Pr. Distirct & Sessions Judge Budgam and under the supervision of Nusrat Ali Hakak, Sub-Judge/Secretary of DLSA Srinagar/Budgam.
The prog focused on raising awareness about critical legal rights such as the right to legal representation, the right to be informed about charges, and protection from inhuman or degrading treatment. These fundamental rights are enshrined in the Indian Constitution and are pivotal to ensuring a just criminal justice process for all individuals, especially vulnerable sections of society.
Tasneem Kausar, Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel, and Abdul Rouf Parray, Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsel, served as the resource persons for the programme.
They engaged the inmates with informative discussions and emphasized the importance of knowing and exercising their legal rights. They highlighted practical steps to access free legal aid and underscored the significance of seeking timely legal assistance for ensuring a fair trial.
The programme was also attended by Prison para-legal volunteers and Para Legal Volunteers from both DLSA Srinagar and Budgam, who contributed to the interactive sessions and ensured the information was effectively communicated to all attendees.
This initiative reflects the commitment of the DLSAs to promoting legal literacy and ensuring access to justice for all individuals, particularly those in custody. Through such awareness programmes, the DLSAs aim to empower inmates by equipping them with the knowledge to navigate the legal system effectively.