Reaffirming commitment of Legal Services Institutions towards ensuring access to justice and upholding the constitutional rights of prisoners, Justice Atul Sreedharan, Judge, High Court of J&K and Ladakh and Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority today conducted an extensive tour to District Jail Bhaderwah to assess the living conditions of inmates, legal aid availability and evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation and reformative measures.

Amit Kumar Gupta, Member Secretary, J&K LSA, Anoop Sharma, Registrar IT, High Court of J&K and Ladakh as well as Muzamil Hayat Kabli, Under Secretary (Adm), J&K LSA, accompanied the Executive Judge, J&K LSA.

Present on the occasion were Balbir Lal, District & Sessions Judge (Chairman, DLSA), Bhaderwah; Harvinder Singh, District Magistrate Doda; Sandeep Mehta, SSP Doda; Hamidullah Malik, Jail Superintendent and Tabraiz Qazi, Secretary, DLSA Bhaderwah.

During the visit, Justice Sreedharan inspected various facilities within the jail, which currently houses 164 undertrial prisoners, 23 detenues and 04 convicts, against a total capacity of 155 persons. He also visited the separate female block, where 15 undertrial prisoners including 7 foreign nationals are lodged. The video conferencing facility in the jail was also found operational, with an ongoing trial in the case titled “State vs Sahil Dingra” in which the accused appeared before the 2nd Additional Sessions Judge, Jammu through virtual mode from district jail Bhaderwah.

The Executive Chairman also inaugurated an Eye Check-up Camp organized by the District Administration in collaboration with the Red Cross Society, where 60 inmates were registered for examination and all the medicines prescribed were provided free of cost by the Red Cross Society.

Taking note of medical needs, Justice Sreedharan directed the District Magistrate to explore the feasibility of providing e-consultations through tele-medicine services, particularly for addressing psychiatric and psychological concerns of the inmates. He also advised the District Administration to consider installation of a defibrillator within the jail dispensary to cater to the cardiac emergencies.

Justice Sreedharan also inspected the 10-bedded medical dispensary, which was found clean and well-maintained. He also visited the Yoga and Meditation Centre, where live yoga classes were being conducted under the guidance of Dr. Nidhi Padha, helping inmates incorporate physical and mental wellness into their daily routine. Besides, rehabilitation and vocational training being imparted to the jail inmates in the Vocational Centre was also inspected, where inmates were engaged in tailoring, incense stick (agarbatti) manufacturing, Kashmiri crewel embroidery and crafting flower pots and decorative items from waste paper material. A showcase of handcrafted items by the inmates highlighted their skill development and the potential for self-sufficiency post-release.

In a bid to promote positive engagement and recreational activities, a cricket match was organized and trophies were distributed among the winning and runner-up teams, along with a special award for the ‘Man of the Match.’

Interacting with the jail inmates during his special address, Justice Sreedharan emphasized that judges only adjudicate the mistakes of an accused committed in law and not the sins committed by them. He reiterated the importance of ensuring timely legal aid for inmates and strengthening rehabilitation measures within correctional facilities.

He also visited the Jail Legal Aid Clinic, where he appreciated the role of Legal Aid Defense Counsels and Para-Legal Volunteers in facilitating legal assistance to inmates.

Hamidullah Malik, Superintendent Jail, highlighted various reformative initiatives being implemented for the well-being of inmates.

Deputy Commissioner Doda, who is also a member of the Undertrial Review Committee (UTRC), expressed gratitude to Justice Sreedharan for choosing Bhaderwah Jail as the first destination for inspection after assuming the charge as Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority.

The Secretary, DLSA Bhaderwah, briefed about various legal aid initiatives being carried out across the district and the role of Legal Services Institutions in ensuring access to justice for all.

This visit underscored the commitment of Legal Services Institutions towards ensuring access to justice, promoting reformation and upholding the dignity of inmates.