Legal Services Day 2022 cum commendation ceremony of best para legal volunteers, panel lawyers and District Legal Services for the year 2022, as a part of NALSA's pan India campaign ‘empowering citizens through legal awareness and outreach campaign of NALSA’, was held across the state on Wednesday.
The main event was held at ADR complex Lamphelpat organised by Manipur State Legal Services Authority under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority attended by Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur, PV Sanjay Kumar, Justice A Bimol, Justice Kh Nobin, commissioner (Law), Nungsitombi Athokpam; registrar general of the High Court of Manipur Gaiphulshillu Golmei; judicial officers, senior advocates among others.
Speaking during the event, Chief Justice PV Sanjay Kumar said that the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 was enacted on October 11, 1987. It came into effect on November 9, 1995. National Legal Services Day was commenced by the Supreme Court of India in 1995. Their aim was to assist and provide free legal help and support to the weaker sections of society. The Supreme Court also wanted to commemorate the enactment of the Legal Services Authorities Act, he said.
The chief justice further said ‘Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987’ came into force on the same day in 1995. On National Legal Services Day, legal awareness camps are held to bring awareness to people about the availability of free legal aid. Currently, there are six authorities or institutions established to provide free legal aid to poor and weaker sections of society, he added.
The chief justice said that to raise public awareness to different section of society and to educate them about their legal rights there are 39 High Court Legal Services Committees (HCLSCs), 37 State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs), 673 District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) and 2465 Taluk Legal Services Committees (TLSCs).
“Often, we heard of huge pending cases and length of time consume by courts in disposing them of, however there is also another equally important and lesser spoken about issue that of blockade excuse, this refers to cases which opt to materialise and figure before the courts because that are redressable causes of action in existence but they do not come into existence owing to ignorance or economic constraint or people who agreed to so as to inform them of their legal rights and remedies such act has enacted,” said the chief justice.
Along with the celebration of Legal Services Day, a commendation ceremony was organised felicitating the legal services functionaries in the state for their services and contribution to the cause of ‘access to justice’.
The chief justice also handed over the award for best District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) for the year, 2022 to District Legal Services Authority, Churachandpur with certificate and memento for the commendable legal services activities undertaken during the year, 2022. District Legal Services Authorities, Thoubal and Imphal East jointly secured the second best DLSA while District Legal Services Authorities, Bishnupur and Imphal West bagged the third best DLSA.
The award for best Panel Lawyer for the year 2022 was given to Khoisnam Lembisana Meidingu, Panel Lawyer of Thoubal DLSA. Second and third best Panel Lawyer, 2022 was given to M Urmila Devi of Bishnupur DLSA and PS Mahaingam of Ukhrul DLSA.
The award for best Para Legal Volunteer for the year 2022 was given to Anita Sahani, PLV of DC Porompat Legal Aid Clinic under Imphal East DLSA. Second and third best PLV, 2022 was given to W Jiban Singh of Heirok Legal Aid Clinic under DLSA Thoubal and Jespi Kamei of Nungba Legal Aid Clinic under Tamenglong DLSA.
Special Appreciation Awards were also given to District Legal Services Authorities of Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong and High Court Legal Services Committee in recognition of the activities, dedicated services rendered by them. Further, the recognition awards were also given to the pro bono lawyers of High Court of Manipur and Mediators of MASLSA for commitments and contribution towards delivering effective pre-litigation mediations and pro-bono services. The event also felicitated the Media Officials for their support and contribution towards building a better and inclusive society through Legal Services Activities.
Also, as a part of Pan India “Empowering citizens through legal awareness and outreach campaign of National Legal Services Authority'', District Legal Services Authority, Imphal East organised Celebration of Legal Services Day at Conference Hall, ADR building, Lamphel Court Complex, Imphal West, Manipur on Tuesday.
Further, District Legal Services Authority, Imphal West (DLSA, IW) conducted “National Legal Services Day” at the conference hall of Cheirap Court Complex, Uripok, in the presence of District and Sessions Judge cum chairman, DLSA, Imphal West Aribam Guneshwar Sharma and Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West cum secretary, DLSA, Imphal West Janggoulen Haokip.
