NALSA Holds Commendation Ceremony Of Best PLVs, Panel Lawyers, DLSAs and SLAs

The chief guest for event was Hon'ble Union Minister of Law & Justice and Electronics & Information Technology Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad. He appreciated the legal aid work being done by NALSA across the nation. He also said that Legal Services Authorities are effectively conducting Lok Adalats. He particularly appreciated the efforts made by Legal Services Authorities in payment of compensation to the victims of crime.

Justice S.A.Bobde, Chief Justice of India Designate appreciated the work done by PLVs and Panel Lawyers in translating into action the policies and programmes of NALSA and SLSAs. He also emphasized the need for pre-litigation mediation in all disputes.

Justice N.V.Ramana also appreciated the work being done by Legal Services Authorities.

NALSA's report on 'Campaign for Legal Assistance to the Family Members of Prisoners' was also released in the presence of the dignitaries. NALSA also released a compendium of Prisoner's rights.

The ceremony honoured the PLVs, DLSAs, Panel Lawyers and SLSAs from each zone and a total of four national level best performers. Rajasthan State Legal Service Authority was given the best National SLSA award, while other zonal winners were Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu and Delhi SLSAs. The Rajasthan SLSA did ground breaking work in legal aid. Important step taken by the SLSA was empanelling of senior advocates to provide quality legal aid to the people and created separate panels for civil, criminal, matrimonial cases etc. This ensured targeted service and better outcomes. The SLSA also launched a 'bring drop out back to school' and 'child marriage restraint campaign'.

Dr. D. Viji of DLSA, Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu was awarded National Best PLV award. Apart from serving her own community of transgenders she works for the poor. She has helped nearly 100 transgenders to register themselves in employment office, helped over 16 of them to set up SHGs and obtained patta for nearly 40 people from the transgender community. She reached out to 1000s of people seeking aid and support.

Mr. Jagat Singh Rawat, DLSA – Palwal Haryana was awarded the best National Panel Lawyer. He has actively participated in outreach programs. He has spread awareness through over 95 legal camps and handled individual cases with legal prowess and social deftness.

District Legal Service Authority, Gumla was commended as the best national DLSA. The DLSA exhibited extreme professionalism with a proactive approach. A campaign for women empowerment was launched to encourage tribal women to form SHGs. A campaign to provide aid to the mentally challenged along with a three-month intensive program for tribal empowerment through enrolment under government schemes were also launched. The DLSA also launched an initiative 'Vidyalaya chale chalaye abhiyan' to bring back drop outs to school.

9^th November holds special significance when it comes to the philosophy and mission of legal justice. The 42^nd Amendment Act 1976 led to the creation of Article 39A in the Constitution of India, the Article which forms the backbone of the entire legal aid structure in the country. It calls upon the states to ensure free legal aid through legislations and schemes thereby ensuring equal access to justice for every individual. As a result, the Legal Service Authorities Act 1987 was promulgated and finally notified on 9^th November 1995.

The day is thus celebrated ever since by commending exemplary work by Authorities and Individuals and encouraging the motivation and dedication to the cause. It is on them the entire edifice of the legal service authority rests and it is them who reinforce the essence of the constitutional mandate.The annual event reiterates the vision of our constitution of an egalitarian and an equitable society, by celebrating and duly recognizing efforts to uphold the ideals.