Important Events related to National Legal Services
Authority held in June, 2023
1) The two-day event of 19th All India Legal Services Authorities Meet was organized by the
Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority under the aegis of National Legal Services
Authority on 30th June and 1st July, 2023 at SKICC in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. The Meet
was inaugurated by Chief Justice of India & Patron-in-Chief, NALSA, Dr. Dhananjaya
Yeshwant Chandrachud. The inaugural ceremony was attended by Justice Sanjay Kishan
Kaul, Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman of NALSA; Justice Sanjiv
Khanna, Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal
Services Committee; various Judges of the Supreme Court of India; Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant
Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir; Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of
State for Law and Justice; Brigadier B D Mishra, Lieutenant Government of the Union
Territory of Ladakh; N. Kotiswar Singh, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir
and Ladakh and Patron-in-Chief of the J&K Legal Services Authority; and Justice Tashi
Rabstan, Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and Executive Chairman
of the J&K Legal Services Authority. Judges from the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and
Ladakh also attended the inaugural session of the Meet.
During the Meet, discussions focused on the future course of action for Legal Services
Authorities, setting targets, addressing various challenges, and implementing steps to
strengthen and streamline legal aid programs in the country.
On the second day of the meeting, there were five sessions chaired by Justice Sanjay Kishan
Kaul, Executive Chairman of NALSA and a Supreme Court Judge. The first session focused
on confirming the minutes of the 18 th All India Meet of State Legal Services Authority, which
took place in Jaipur, Rajasthan in July 2022. Discussions also revolved around technology in
Legal Services, specifically strengthening the National Legal Aid Helpline -15100 and
NALSA's digital platform.
The second session addressed the topic of Legal Aid for under trial prisoners, emphasizing the
strengthening of legal services during the pre-arrest, arrest, and remand stages. It also focused
on enhancing and monitoring legal services in prisons and police stations. The session also
discussed the role of legal services authorities in rehabilitating prisoners after their release.
The third session extensively covered court-based legal aid, including the Legal Aid Defense
Counsel System (LADCS), its current status in various states and union territories, selection
criteria at different levels, and the required office space and infrastructure for the system.
There was also a discussion on resizing the panel of Legal Aid Counsels and the concept of
Open Prisons, along with the role of Legal Services institutions in that context.
The fourth session delved into the subject of legal empowerment and Eco-Justice. The
discussions focused on providing need-based and area-specific legal services, including
"Reach-Out" programs, awareness campaigns, and community participation in dispute
resolution. The role of Legal Services institutions in promoting eco-justice was also discussed.
The fifth session exclusively addressed the utilization and audit of NALSA grants. The
program concluded with a valedictory session and closing remarks by the chair.
2) Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Hon’ble Minister of State for Law and Justice visited the Jaisalmer
House office of National Legal Services Authority on 14th June, 2023.
3) “International Yoga Day” was celebrated on 21st June by Chhattisgarh State Legal Services
Authority, Old High Court Building, Bilaspur as per the instructions of Hon’ble Mr. Justice
Goutam Bhaduri, Executive Chairman, State Legal Services Authority. On this occasion,
according to the instructions of the Member Secretary of the State Legal Services Authority,
Mr. Anand Prakash Wariyal, all the officers and employees were made to practice yoga from
07.00 am in the office premises. Member Secretary Mr. Anand Prakash Wariyal, stating the
benefits of staying healthy through yoga, said that every person must do yoga for at least 30
minutes. He said that yoga develops the quality and capacity of work and keeps the body
healthy.
