The offices of Legal Aid Defense Counsel System (LADCS) for Imphal West and Imphal East were inaugurated on Saturday at Cheirap Court Complex at Uripok and Lamphel Court Complex at Lamphelpat respectively by Justice A Bimol and Justice A Guneshwar Sharma.
The inaugural programme was organised by the Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) in collaboration with the District Legal Services Authorities under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority.
Speaking to the media on the occasion, Justice A Bimol informed that LADCS is a scheme under National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to provide free legal aid to the poor and needy people facing criminal cases to defend themselves during trial.
He said, it aims to provide free legal aid and assistance to poor and needy individuals with respect to representation or conducting trial and appeals including all miscellaneous work in all criminal matters.
He also informed that the offices of the LADCS for the state were initially implemented for four judicial districts (Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Bishnupur) where legal aided cases are maximum.
For the remaining five judicial districts (Senapati, Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Chandel and Tamenglong) where the legal aided cases are minimal, the legal aid defense counsels which are recruited for the four districts will be utilised on rotational basis as per the requirements, he added.
The programme also witnessed judges of the lower and other subordinate courts, officials of MASLSA, judicial officers, executives of AMBA, AMLAA and other advocates.
