Chief Justice visits J&K LSA; inspects infrastructure, operational facilities

JAMMU, OCTOBER 28: Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, Justice Tashi Rabstan, who is Patron-in-Chief, J&K Legal Services Authority, accompanied by Registrar General, Shahzad Azeem and M. K. Sharma, Principal Secretary today visited the office of J&K Legal Services Authority at Janipur and conducted an extensive inspection of the infrastructure and operational facilities available there.

During his visit, the Chief Justice took a round of different sections of the Legal Services Authority office and interacted with the staff members. He lauded the dedication with which the staff was performing its duties and acknowledged the significant role of J&K LSA in delivering justice to marginalized communities across the Union Territory. He appreciated the constant efforts of the J&K LSA in fulfilling its mission of ensuring “Access to Justice for All.”

While acknowledging the commendable work being carried out by the Authority, the Chief Justice acknowledged that the present infrastructure for housing the office of Member Secretary, J&K LSA was in-sufficient and poses challenges for optimum output. He emphasized that the building from which the current office of J&K LSA is operating is of Jammu Development Authority (JDA), which is inadequate and lacks basic infrastructure, limiting the scope for efficient functioning.

The Chief Justice directed the Member Secretary, J&K LSA to identify a suitable state land near the proposed site for new High Court Complex Jammu. This will help raise and upgrade the infrastructure of the Legal Services Authority to facilitate a more conducive working environment for the staff besides enhancing the overall effectiveness of Authority.

Justice Tashi Rabstan reiterated the vision of expanding the reach of legal services to the most vulnerable sections of the society. He stressed that the J&K LSA must intensify its efforts to ensure that no individual is left without access to justice, even in the remotest and far-flung areas. He highlighted that the J&K Legal Services Authority should aim to reach out to every nook and corner of the Union Territory to cater to the expectations of the last man waiting in the queue for legal assistance.

The visit reflects the vision of Justice Tashi Rabstan in strengthening legal services and improving the accessibility of justice for all. The J&K LSA reaffirmed its dedication to furthering its outreach programs and expanding its initiatives in accordance with the vision and guidance of the Chief Justice.

The inspection concluded with a renewed focus on infrastructural improvements and the need for effective measures to address challenges in the delivery of legal aid services.