JDISTRICT LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY JALANDHAR

Goals and achievements.

Indian Judicial System , an Anglo Saxon product, was often

criticized as rich and affluent friendly. Poor and other weaker sections

of Society shuddered from the very idea of getting involved in a

litigation. Guarantees offered to its Citizens by Constitution of India

were meaningless for them.

Post Independence Indian Judiciary did not remain oblivious

to the plight of poor and other weaker sections of Society. In

Hussainara Khatoon Vs State of Bihar 1980(1) MLJ 86, Apex Court of

the Country impressed upon Government of India and State Governments

that it was high time that a comprehensive legal service programme is

introduced in the country as it was not only a mandate of equal justice

implicit in Article 14 and right to life and liberty conferred by

Article 21, but also the compulsion of the constitutional directive

embodied in Article 39-A. These instructions were hammered in Khatri

Vs State of Bihar and Sukhdas Vs U. T.

Crusade undertaken by Supreme Court of India fructified in

, inter-alia, the Government of India enacting "the Legal Services

Authorities Act 1987" which came into force on 9.11.1995. The State of

Punjab has framed Rules and Regulations there under namely, the Punjab

State Legal Services Authorities Rules, 1996 and the Punjab Legal

Services Authority (Transaction of Business and Other Provisions)

Regulations, 1998 respectively for implementation of various schemes

and programmes provided under the Act.

District Legal Service Authority Jalandhar ( DLSA) came

into being on 26-11-1991.

The District and Sessions Judge Jalandhar, as Chairman of

DLSA Jalandhar , is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that objects of

Legislature and Vision of Indian Judiciary are achieved.

Once Swami Vivekananda was asked “ What is worse than loosing sight ? ” and the Swami replied “ loosing vision”

Sessions Division Jalandhar takes pride in having

implemented those schemes and programmes in letter and spirit and with

zeal , enthusiasm, fervour and conviction.

A panel of 15 Advocates at District Head quarter and of 5

lawyers at each Sub Division is available to provide free legal aid to all

those who are eligible thereto. Jail inmates are being regularly apprised

of their Legal Rights by DLSA. An ADA ( Legal Services ) visits Jail

weekly for providing legal services to them. It is ensured that no under

trial/accused is made to appear without being assisted by a Counsel as 4

Advocates at District Headquarter and 1 each at Sub Divisions are

readily available to represent them at State expense.

LOK ADALTS , as one of the major tool for providing free

and speedy resolution of disputes for once and all, has assumed shape of

a movement. It has revolutionized the whole concept of litigation.

Inception of Lok Adalats was received with circumspection, sarcasam,

cynicism and indifference by most of the wings in the system of

Administration of Justice.

Before soon every body has now recognized LOK ADALATS

as one of the most effective and useful mode of bringing warring

litigants to a position of win-win for all of them. A matter decided in Lok

Adalat , impliedly, ensures that 3 potential rounds of litigation upto the

Supreme Court are effaced. A dream of Indian Judiciary is being

fulfilled, though gradually but colourfully, for sure.

His Excellency Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam , the former President

of India, once said that Dream is not the one you see while sleeping.

Dream is the one which does not let you sleep. Entire of the team of

Judicial Officers posted at Sessions Division Jalandhar led by S. Gurdev

Singh ld. District and Sessions Division Jalandhar is striving with

enthusiasm to fill colours in dreams and vision of His Lordship

Honourable Mr. Justice T S Thakur, Chief Justice Punjab and Haryana,

His Lordship Honourable Mr. Justice Mehtab Singh Gill, Executive

Chairman Punjab State Legal Service Authority and His Lordship

Honourable Mr. Justice M M Kumar, Administrative Judge Jalandhar

Sessions Division .

MEGA LOK ADALAT 2008, more popularly known as

SAMADHAN 2008 , a vision of His Lordship, the Chief Justice , T

S Thakur was a resounding success.

and led by the mercurial Chief Justice, Sessions Jalandhar Division

achieved best results in the State of Punjab. 45 benches catered to

thousands of litigants and pre-litigants and a total number of 45,225

cases were taken up and 45,225 cases were disposed off and an amount

of Rs. 61,40,05,533/- was awarded as compensation. 6843 of the

pending cases at Jalandhar Sessions Division were disposed off during

Samadhan 2008 and the pendency came down by a whopping 13.49% as a

direct product of Samadhan 2008.

SAMADHAN 2009 is bound to be even more successful and

Sessions Division Jalandhar would yearn to countinue as the flag bearer .

Permanent Lok Adalat is functioning at Jalandhar since 22-

5-1999 and presently 2 benches ( one chaired by an Additional and

District Sessions Judge and the other by a Civil Judge ) are working.

Quarterly Lok Adalats are also being regularly held with very encouraging

results.

Another permanent Lok Adalat ( Public Utility Services ) is

functioning at Jalandhar and dealing with pre-litgative disputes relating

to departments like Telephones, Posts, Insurance, Hospitals, Municipal

Corporation etc.

DLSA Jalandhar is spreading Legal

literacy and awareness in the

District by way of Public Seminars

( 307 so far), Legal Literacy Camps,

rallies, Poster making and Essay

competitions, Debates, Television

talk shows on legal rights, Pamphlets,

placards, posters and banners ,

DLSA is reaching common man to tell

them objects of Law through

Schools, Colleges, Jails, Hospitals,

Bus Stands, Railway Stations, Police

Stations and villages.

A Legal Aid Clinic comprised of 5 Councillors ( Retired

Judicial Officers/Police Officers/Teachers and Social Workers)

functions from Court Complex Jalandhar and is guiding General Public of

their Legal Rights.

DLSA organizes Legal Aid Week for Women from 8th. March

to 14th. March 24th. every year. It also organizes National Legal Aid Week

for protection of Labourers from 1st May to 7th May and World Mental

Health weak from 10th October to 16th October.

SEMINAR AT B.D.ARYA COLLEGE, JALANDHAR CANTT DURING NATIONAL LEGAL AID WEEK FOR WOMEN PRESIDED OVER BY

SH.GURDEV SINGH, D&SJ, JALANDHAR

Inspired by S Gurdev Singh Chairman DLSA

Jalandhar, Lions CLUB Jalandhar got translated Mental Health Act 1996

in Punjabi language and the compilation named HANEREY RAHAN DEY

CHIRAGH was published in the year 2007 and is being circulated free of

costs.

Release of Hanerey Rahan dey Chiragh

In tune with intention of the Legislature expressed through

amendment in Section 89 of Civil Procedure Code and needs of the

Society, A Mediation and Conciliation Center was inaugurated at

Jalandhar on 8-11-2008 by His Lordship Honourable Mr. Justice Satya

Brat Sinha , Judge Supreme Court of India and in B K Mehta ( Additional

District and Sessions Judge) and Ms Sanjeeta ( Civil Judge ) two trained

mediators are holding sessions for mediation between the parties and

response of the public is overwhelming and the smile on their faces after

settling their disputes through mediation is priceless.

Although statistics do not always manifest true spirit behind the effort

yet achievements of DLSA is tell a tale in itself. It has provided legal aid

in 4612 matters , a total of 170 Lok Adalats have been organized so far

and 1,07,563 cases have been settled therein and an amount of Rs.

1,90,16,27,056 has been awarded to the poor and needy.

District Legal Service Authority is committed to march

forward with dedication and devotion to ensure that Vision and Dreams

of The Apex Court and Honourable High Court of Punjab and Haryana are

fulfilled.

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HIERICHICAL TREE OF LEGAL SERVICE AUTHORITYNATIONAL LEVELPatron –in-Chief Honourable Mr. Justice

K.G.BalakrishnanChief Justice of India

Executive Chairman

Honourable Mr. Justice

Ajit Pasayat Judge Supreme Court Justice of India

STATE LEVEL

Patron –in-Chief Honourable Mr. Justice Tirath Singh Thakur Chief Justice P & H High Court

Executive Chairman

Honourable Mr. Justice Mehtab Singh Gill Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court

District Leal Service Authority, Jalandhar

Chairman : District & Sessions Judge

Secretary : Civil Judge (Sr Dn.)

Sub Division DLS Committees are headed by Additional Civil Judge(s) Senior Division-cum- Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrates.

Panel of Free Legal Aid Advocates at Jalandhar

1.Sh.Navtej Singh Toor2. Sh.G.K.Agnihotri3. Sh.Ashish Bhandari4. Sh.Vijay Kumar Chopra5. Ms.Jyotsna6. Ms.Rajinder kaur7. Ms.Parveen Bala8. Sh.R.K.Mehmi9. Sh.N.R.Jasal10.Sh.Sanjeev Kumar11.Sh.Shailender Gill12.Sh.Satish Kumar13.Sh.Siddarth Puri14.Sh.Anil Verma15.Sh.Ashok Sharma

Panel of Free Legal Aid Advocates at Nakodar

1.Jagjit Singh Marok2.Sh.Raj Kumar Sidhu3.Sh.Satwinder Singh Khinda4. Sh.Jarnail Singh5. Sh. Jatinder Pattu

Panel of Free Legal Aid Advocates at Phillaur

1. Ms.Jaspinder K.Dhariwal2. Sh.Baljit Singh Thandi3. Sh.Yogesh Gupta4. Sh.Jaspal Kaler5. Sh.Rajesh Kumar

Persons Eligible for Legal Services under the Act 1. a member of a Schedules Caste or Scheduled

Tribe 2. a victim of trafficking in human beings or

beggars as referred to in Article 23 of the Constitution

3. a woman or a child4. a mentally ill or otherwise disabled person5. a person under circumstances of undeserved

want such as being a victim of a mass disaster, ethnic violence, caste atrocity, flood, drought, earthquake or industrial disaster;

6. an industrial workman; or7. in custody, including in a protective home

within the meaning of clause(g) of section 2 of the Immoral Traffic(Prevention) Act, 1956(104 of 1956); or in a juvenile home within the meaning of clause of section 2 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 1986(53 of 1986) or in a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric nursing home within the meaning of clause(g) of section 2 of the Mental Health Act, 1987(14 fo 1987); or

8. in receipt of annual income less than fifty thousand rupees(Rs.50,000/- P.A.).

What is provided as Legal Service

1. Help of Advocate at the State Expenses for filling or

defending the cases before any Judicial Courts in India,

2. Free legal advise on any matter,

3 By paying the amount of court fee, process fee, fee for

drafting of petitions, diet money and other litigation charges,

4 By supplying certified copies of orders, Judgments, Witness

etc.

5. By mediation through counselling & conciliation centre,

6. By way of mediation through the Lok Adalats.